Parricide in Thailand: Its Causes, Characteristics, and Factors

• Author: Thitipun Manujantarat,Sunee Kanyajit,Veenunkarn Rujipark,Noppawan Unmarerng,Natthapon Sokantat
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/10887679211031286
• Published date: 01 May 2023
• Date: 01 May 2023
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/10887679211031286

Homicide Studies

2023, Vol. 27(2) 275 –295

© 2021 SAGE Publications

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DOI: 10.1177/10887679211031286

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Article

Parricide in Thailand: Its

Causes, Characteristics,

and Factors

Thitipun Manujantarat1, Sunee Kanyajit1,

Veenunkarn Rujipark1, Noppawan Unmarerng2

and Natthapon Sokantat1

Abstract

To date, studies as to parricide have mostly pertained to Western contexts. This

study is the first exploratory research to consider parricide in Thailand alongside

its patterns, causes and factors within this specific socio-cultural context. In-depth

interviews were employed with 21 male perpetrators of parricide serving sentences

in three prisons in Thailand. These interviews found that the victims had abused

and committed domestic violence against the perpetrator prior to the parricide.

Furthermore, the act of parricide in each case derived from the anger of, and

unplanned use of weapons (i.e., sticks, kitchen tools and farming tools) by, a sole

perpetrator.

Keywords

parricide, Thailand, social bond theory, self-control theory and general strain theory,

substance/alcohol abuse, rehabilitation

Introduction

On the 16th of March 2014, news reports were published in Thailand denoting how an

individual had murdered his parents and younger brother due to them being pressured

to study and not having been bought a car as promised (Manager Online, 2014;

The Nation, 2014). This report sent shockwaves throughout Thai Society, exacerbated

1Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand

2Macquarie University, Australia

Corresponding Author:

Thitipun Manujantarat, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Mahidol University, 999 Phutthamonthon

Sai 4 Road, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand.

Email: Thitipun.bird@outlook.com

1031286HSXXXX10.1177/10887679211031286Homicide StudiesManujantarat et al.

research-article2021

276 Homicide Studies 27(2)

when a similar case occurred on the 5th of April 2015 which witnessed a male murder-

ing his parents and older brother (Jantarak & Sanub, 2014; Satrabhaya, 2014; The

Nation, 2014). These two parricide cases caused Thai Society to question if the family

institution in Thailand had irretrievably broken down and if this was a manifestation

of the domestic violence frequently encountered in Thailand (in husbands assaulting

their wives, for example).

“Patricide” or “matricide,” the act of killing one’s own father or mother (Heide &

Frei, 2010; West & Feldsher, 2010), or “parricide” in being the act of killing any rela-

tive (Heide, 1992), is considered a rare crime (Barber, 2020; Sahin et al., 2016;

Weisman et al., 2002) and often one with indeterminate causes (Choakdamrongsuk,

2014). In Criminology and Legal Theory, parricide is classified as a malum in se

crime—whereby, regardless of society, culture or religion, it is held to be inherently

evil to kill others (especially one’s parents). Research has shown that parricide com-

prises approximately 2% of all murder cases in the United States (Heide & Frei, 2010;

Heide & Petee, 2007; Perri et al., 2008) alongside 2% to 7% of murder cases in France

(Devaux et al., 1974), England and Wales (d’Orban & O’Connor, 1989; Green, 1981),

and Canada (Bourget et al., 2007).

Dr. Jetsada Choakdamrongsuk, former Director-General of the Mental Health

Department within the Thai Ministry of Public Health, has spoken about how experts

are seeking to explain the occurrence of parricide. At present, it is generally theorized

that this phenomenon derives from an accumulation, among perpetrators, of feeling

ridiculed or ashamed. For the individual, this results in an understanding that they

have been abused and that they are unwanted/unjustified. When such abuse repeatedly

occurs or self-perceived worthlessness is reiterated, a drive for self-liberation arises

via a fight or flight response. Here, the flight route may be suicide while the fight route

may be to assault those figures seen to be the abuser(s). In this sense, parricide is a

means of a person seeking to liberate themselves from discomfort, a lack of justice,

and an inability to channel their need for revenge (Choakdamrongsuk, 2014).

Associate Professor Dr. Sunee Kanyajit, a Criminologist and Lecturer in the

Criminology of Justice Administration and Society at Mahidol University has argued

that, generally, there are three parenting styles; (1) neglectful, (2) democratic, and (3)

authoritarian. Today, Thai Society witnesses significant pressure being imposed upon

children by parents due to contemporary educational provisions being highly competi-

tive and materialism becoming a stronger cultural norm—as may be considered to

manifest authoritarian practice if not enacted at a reasonable level. Parenting which is

overly strict will lead to children encountering accumulated stress which, if unad-

dressed, could lead to their offspring exhibiting violent behavior which may harm

others (Kanyajit, 2014). In this regard, it may be argued that neglectful and authoritar-

ian parenting may invoke strain which leads to violent responses among recipients.

The rural communities of Thailand are often isolated from mainstream or centralized

social services and thus neglectful parenting or abusive inter-familial relationships

may not be identified by those outside of the immediate family structure. This is noted

here as it may explain the occurrence of parricide within the Thai context. Similarly, it

is noted that Thai Law does hold self-defence provisions for violence enacted