ABSTRACT
Reviewing the historical, literary, and multicultural aspects of neonaticide, infanticide, and filicide, as has been done here, provides a context for crimes that some people may think are new bases for today’s headlines. Clearly, this is not the case. Motives have not changed appreciably over the centuries either, although we may be more aware of their variety today. What
has
changed in some jurisdictions is the way in which the perpetrators of these crimes, especially neonaticide, are regarded by the law. There is also greater awareness, in some quarters, of the need for changing society’s perspective as Schroeder, just quoted, has suggested, although we would add lawyers, legislators, and judges to his target audience.
