The Susan Smith Story: Unthinkable Crime

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Recommended: Psychological theories behind why criminal acts occur

Susan Smith was sentenced to life in prison for committing the “Unthinkable Crime” of murdering her two children, Michael Daniel and Alexander Tyler. She lied to the police and later confessed to pushing her car into the John D. Lake on October 25, 1994 and drowned her two children. Smith often suffered from depressed and after a confession, Smith had told cops she was suicidal after a break up with a boyfriend. In the trial, it came out that her stepfather Beverly Russell sexually assaulted Susan Smith. Smith has the main attributes of the General Strain Theory: Depression, suicide attempts and being sexually abused.
The General Strain Theory goes into more depth, compared to other feminist theories, about three psychological strain sources. This feminist theory argues that various types of negative relations and interactions with others (strains) lead to negative emotions …show more content…

(1992). Foundation for a general strain theory of crime and delinquency.
Criminology, 30, 47-88.
American Justice : The Susan Smith Story - A Mothers Confession. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcVoQ7pzHaE

Higgins, G., Piquero, N., & Piquero, A. (2010). General Strain Theory, Peer Rejection, and Delinquency/Crime. Youth & Society, 43(4), 1272-1297. Retrieved September 13, 2014.

Rachel, P. (n.d.). Susan Smith: Child Murderer or Victim. Retrieved September 13, 2014, from http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/famous/smith/bibli_11.html

Rekers, G. (1996). The Unthinkable Crime Why Did Susan Kill Her Own Babies? In Susan Smith: Victim or murderer. Lakewood, CO.: Glenbridge Pub.

Susan Smith | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. (n.d.). Retrieved September 13, 2014, from http://murderpedia.org/female.S/s/smith-susan.htm

Watts, S., & McNulty, T. (2013). Childhood Abuse and Criminal Behavior: Testing a General Strain Theory Model. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 3024-3040. Retrieved September 13,

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