Female killers in Sweden show low psychopathy, primarily reactive motives

A new study published in the International Journal of Forensic Mental Health offers one of the most comprehensive investigations to date of women in Sweden who have committed lethal or attempted lethal violence. The findings suggest that most of these female offenders show low levels of psychopathic traits and tend to act out of reactive, emotionally driven motives rather than calculated, goal-oriented aggression. However, the presence of a severe mental disorder was linked to a more complex mix of both reactive and instrumental features, indicating that the motivations behind lethal violence in women may be more multifaceted than previously thought.

While most studies on homicide and severe violence focus on men, researchers know comparatively little about women who commit such crimes. Understanding the psychological and behavioral characteristics of this subgroup is important for developing more effective methods of prevention, assessment, and rehabilitation.

Prior research has indicated that women tend to commit violent acts in the context of self-defense, emotional distress, or interpersonal conflict rather than for material gain or premeditated goals. Still, there has been limited investigation into how traits such as psychopathy and the presence of a severe mental disorder intersect with the type of violence committed by female offenders.

This study was designed to examine how levels of psychopathy and the nature of the violent act—whether reactive (emotionally driven) or instrumental (planned and goal-directed)—relate to the presence or absence of a severe mental disorder. The research aimed to shed light on patterns that might inform both clinical understanding and criminal justice responses.

“The main motivation for me to pursue this research was that we know less about females who commit lethal and severe violence compared to their male counterparts. Thus, there is a knowledge gap concerning this offender group with implications for our ability to detect potential offenders and victims before crimes are committed,” said study author Karin Trägårdh, a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg and a psychologist specialized in clinical forensic psychology, who works at the Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Rågården.

The researchers analyzed forensic psychiatric records of all women in Sweden who were charged with lethal or attempted lethal violence and underwent a court-ordered forensic psychiatric investigation between 2000 and 2014. This included offenses such as murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, infanticide, and related crimes. The final sample included 175 women, which represents the vast majority of such cases during that period.

Each case was assessed using two key instruments. The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) was used to measure levels of psychopathic traits across four facets: interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, and antisocial. The Violent Incident Coding Sheet (VICS) was used to classify the violent act as primarily reactive or instrumental, and to assess related characteristics such as planning, provocation, emotional arousal, and goal-directedness.

The researchers divided the sample into two groups: women who were found to have been suffering from a severe mental disorder at the time of the offense, and those who were not. This classification is a legal construct in Sweden and typically applies to individuals with conditions like schizophrenia or severe depression, particularly when symptoms impair reality testing or impulse control.

Across the entire sample, most women scored low on the PCL-R, suggesting that psychopathic traits were generally not prominent in this population. The average total score was about 11 out of a possible 40, which is considered well below the threshold typically used to indicate psychopathy. Women with a severe mental disorder had even lower scores, especially on the interpersonal facet, which includes traits like manipulation and superficial charm.

When the researchers examined the nature of the violent acts, they found that nearly all were classified as reactive rather than instrumental. This means the violence was typically a response to a perceived threat or provocation and was carried out in an emotionally charged state, rather than being premeditated or carried out for gain. Most incidents lacked clear planning, and emotional arousal was high.

Interestingly, the women with severe mental disorders showed a somewhat more complex pattern. Although they still tended to act in reactive ways, women with severe mental disorders were more likely to have engaged in some form of short-term planning and experienced very high emotional arousal. At the same time, they were less likely to report immediate provocation, which might indicate a buildup of emotional distress or a perceived sense of threat that was not tied to a specific triggering event.

“The finding that female offenders assessed as having a severe mental disorder exhibited slightly more planning, albeit short-term, compared to those without such a disorder, was somewhat surprising,” Trägårdh told PsyPost. “Coupled with other research indicating that female offenders of lethal violence have sought support (e.g., within health and social services, and the police) prior to the crime more often than male offenders, this suggests we may be able to identify these women more effectively before they commit acts of violence by asking the right questions.”

When the researchers analyzed the relationship between psychopathy and type of violence, they found modest associations. Higher levels of psychopathy were somewhat linked to more instrumental features, such as planning and goal-directedness, but these associations were not strong. Among women without a severe mental disorder, psychopathy scores were more likely to align with clear instrumental motives. Among women with severe mental disorders, the associations were more scattered, suggesting a more nuanced relationship between traits and behavior.

The results indicate that female offenders of lethal violence in Sweden tend to be emotionally reactive rather than coldly calculating, and most do not show high levels of psychopathy. This challenges common stereotypes about violent offenders and suggests that interventions focusing on emotional regulation and social support may be more appropriate for many women in this group than traditional punitive approaches.

“The key point is that the lethal or attempted lethal violence committed by these females was mainly driven by reactive features, such as high arousal, experienced provocation, low instrumental goal-directedness, and low levels of planning,” Trägårdh said. “Additionally, the female offenders of the lethal or attempted lethal violence were characterised by relatively low levels of psychopathic traits. This has implications for both preventive and treatment measures.”

The researchers caution against interpreting any single factor—such as planning or psychopathy score—in isolation. Female lethal violence appears to be driven by a blend of emotional, situational, and psychological factors, and these influences may manifest differently depending on whether the woman is experiencing a severe mental illness at the time.

“I would emphasize the importance of keeping the complexity in mind,” Trägårdh explained. “For example, even if we observe characteristics common to most of these female offenders, we must also recognize individual differences and be open to the possibility that some offenders do not conform to the typical pattern but instead behave in more atypical ways.”

While the findings are based on a robust national dataset, the researchers note that generalizing the results to other countries should be done with caution, given differences in legal systems and cultural contexts. The results are also limited to women who underwent forensic psychiatric evaluations, which may not capture every case of female-perpetrated lethal violence.

The authors hope that future research will explore how these patterns hold up across different populations and settings. They also suggest that prevention strategies could benefit from greater awareness of the warning signs in women who are at risk of committing lethal violence—particularly those who engage with social or health services and exhibit signs of emotional overwhelm or unprocessed trauma.

“I hope this research will contribute to increased knowledge in society regarding lethal or attempted lethal violence committed by females,” Trägårdh said. “If we learn more, I believe we are more likely to discuss these issues in an informed manner, and hopefully raise questions and investigate this further before crimes are committed. In that way, we could prevent such violence altogether and also improve risk management to reduce the chances of reoffending when crimes have been committed.”

The study, “Links Between Psychopathy, Type of Violence, and Severe Mental Disorder among Female Offenders of Lethal Violence in Sweden,” was authored by Karin Trägårdh, Malin Hildebrand Karlén, Peter Andiné, and Thomas Nilsson.