Theories of motivation: Sociology

Sociological theories of homicide are more focussed on the social roots that lead to offending rather than the idea that individuals are predisposed to it.

Structural and cultural researchers look at the patterns between the social characteristics of offenders – for example looking at how poverty, or inequality etc might correlate with patterns of homicide.

Interactional researchers on the other hand, look at the degree to which behaviour is determined by structure or culture.

It is generally considered that an approach that combines these two forms of sociology would be more beneficial than looking just at structural/cultural theories or just at interactional ones.

It is important to note that homicides are not always comparable. The motives behind a parent killing their child will be drastically different to the motives behind a robbery that became a murder. This makes it very difficult to make any generalisations about homicides and the people who commit them.