Typologies of Murder Based on Several Narratives

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Iran

Abstract

While any murder is unique in its kind, different types of murders could include common features, thus indicating that murder could be patterned in several types. By adopting a qualitative methodology, and through in- depth, semi- structured interviews with 14 murderers which included 12 men and two women in Tehran, the present research tries to find out different types of murders and also tries to understand why murder has been committed. Research findings indicate that murder is not just a behavior or event, but that the nature of a murder is varied and constructed in social and cultural context. The results also show that homicide could occur in various social contexts such as criminal groups, within the sphere of family, street crime and also in convergence with other offenses.  Murder is not randomly distributed but is often an interaction between two or more persons who have known each other and in interpersonal conflict, violence as a dynamic process can be exchanged among individuals in similar social status. Fear, resentment and hatred, despair, ambition and anger and showing off, are several reasons which could pull the trigger of violence. Most murders are caused by conflict between people over minor issues and hence they can be called confrontational killings. Another type of murders is revenge killings, which could reflect a rational decision, humiliation or despair.

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