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Peer-reviewed article

Mad and murderous: two matricides reported by the Italian press before and after the Basaglia law

December 21, 2005 | Media and Technology
This study presents the results of a qualitative analysis based on 13 crime news articles from Italian newspapers, to show that the belief that mental disorder predisposes many of those suffering from it to behave violently has endured, though the 180 bill was passed 25 years ago. Although the question has already been addressed by social psychologists and psychiatrists, it has not been discussed in great detail by science communication. However, this considers crime articles in newspapers as very interesting examples of indirect communication on health issues, where common belief prevails. The articles analyzed were about two matricides dating back to 1972 and 2001 respectively. The analysis showed that the belief that people with mental illnesses are recognizable, antisocial, can behave violently and cannot recover, has endured over many years. Nevertheless, statements about people with mental disorders are more accurate and the idea that the risk of violence among released mental patients is predictable, has been set aside.

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  • Silvia Bencivelli
    Author
    SISSA
  • Citation

    ISSN : 1824-2049
    Publication Name: Journal of Science Communication
    Volume: 4
    Number: 4
    Resource Type: Research Products
    Discipline: General STEM | Health and medicine | Nature of science | Social science and psychology
    Audience: General Public | Scientists
    Environment Type: Media and Technology | Comics, Books, and Newspapers

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