Theoretical Insights Into Cumulative Childhood Adversity and Homicide Victimization

Individuals who experience homicide often have backgrounds marked by extensive childhood adversity—such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction—which undermines psychological resilience and support. The CDC-Kaiser ACE Scale provides a tool for quantifying such early trauma, yet research more frequently explores its links to offending than to victimisation. This chapter addresses the gap by reviewing evidence that higher ACE scores elevate the risk of homicide victimisation, examining how overlapping adversities foster psychological vulnerabilities and risky behaviours. Highlighting gradient effects and the conditional vulnerability model, the chapter offers insights into pathways from childhood trauma to fatal outcomes, identifying high-risk populations and discussing crucial implications for prevention, intervention, and policy.