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CRIMES OF PASSION (Becoming a norm in our society)

INTRODUCTION

I have chosen to primarily focus my attention on the area of Crimes of Passion as it also falls under the different forms of domestic violence. For the sake of clarity, a crime of passion defined is “a crime in which the perpetrator commits a crime, especially assault, murder or rape, against someone because of sudden strong impulse such as sudden rage or heartbreak rather than as a premeditated crime” (Shipway 2004).

MAIN ARTICLE

Domestic violence comes in so many forms nowadays but if it’s one form that stands out, it has to be passion killings or better known as crimes of passion. Almost every week in our country, there must be a reported case in which this crime is committed but then the question that is slowly lingering amongst us is, are we even concerned that lives are being lost to the hand of this crime? It’s as if we are becoming used to it so much that we are not being moved by it anymore. Articles such as “Woman found with 27 stab wounds” (The Namibian 2012). and “Guard kills school-going girlfriend” (The Namibian Sun 2012) taken from local newspapers, are becoming something of our daily lifestyles. But what if it happened to our loved ones, a family member or relative, would we take this issue lightly? Little do we know that domestic violence does not only have a negative effect on its direct victims but it also touches a lot of other areas in our lives which makes us indirect victims. More than just the Physical Effects which were pointed out by Jones and Horan (1997) that include “bruises, broken bones, head injuries, lacerations, and internal bleeding (some of the acute effects of a domestic violence incident that require medical attention and hospitalization)”, there are more effects when it comes to domestic violence. There are Effects on Children as research has shown that 3.3 million children witness domestic violence each year. There has been an increase in acknowledgment that a child who is exposed to domestic abuse during their upbringing will suffer in their developmental and psychological welfare (Dodd L.W, 2009). This also leads to Long-term Effects as domestic violence can trigger many different responses in victims, all of which are very relevant for any professional working with a victim. Major consequences of domestic violence victimization include psychological/mental health issues and chronic physical health problems.

CONCLUSION

So instead of pouring out your anger towards your spouse, make communication a part of your daily lifestyle. Not only will it help reduce the number of misunderstandings between each other but it will also serve as a medium of intimate connection in your relationship. Having said that, let us remember to Stop the Violence, Put God First and Spread the Peace.