In the media and in colloquial language, crimes of passion are spoken of in reference to homicides that occur as a result of some sentimental dispute.
As a general criterion, these are violent actions that constitute a crime. In recent years the label "crime of passion" has been replaced by others, such as "gender violence" or "domestic violence".
The use of words is important to describe the facts
For some, the concept of crime of passion is inappropriate, since deep down it expresses a certain justification for violence, since something "good" (the passion of love) is what triggers the criminal action.
In some journalistic chronicles, the murderer is presented as a man who deeply loved his partner but could not control his feelings and therefore ended up killing her. To avoid this type of euphemistic and inappropriate language, the concept of gender violence has begun to be used.
Jealousy, a sense of possession and a macho culture are the main causes of crimes against women
Although each crime or violent act against women has specific characteristics, we can speak of a series of general circumstances. From a psychological point of view, some men believe that their partners are their property (in popular language the well-known phrase "I killed her because she was mine" is used).
Sometimes the violent reactions of men are the result of a macho mentality deeply rooted in society as a whole.
The sinister face of love
On the issue of gender violence, a complex fact is revealed: love has a potentially dangerous dimension. There are people who love with respect and without impositions, while others have a domineering and oppressive way of loving.
From the point of view of the possessive lover, his feeling is intense and pure (it is very likely that he does not see the perversion of his idea of love).
In summary, in most violent acts against women there is a combination of two factors: a macho mentality that does not accept that women and men are equal, and an idea of love based on domination.
Photo: Fotolia - lera_spb
