The Taxonomy of HomicideAs a general rule, jurisdictions in the US do not differentiate between homicide cases on the bases of the victim. That is to say, killing your uncle will receive the same charge and penalty as killing a person who is not related to you, all other things being equal. Even though the judicial system does not usually care about this kind of distinction, there are people who do. For one example, consider criminologists. These are researchers who are interested in the psychology of crime. Are some people more likely to break the law than others? What are people's motivations for the crimes they commit? If we presume that people are born essentially good, then what could cause a criminal mind to develop over time? For people who are interested in these questions, distinguishing between different forms of homicide can provide important insight into the nature of these crimes. Besides criminologists, some people are interested in the sociology of murder. How is homicide presented in the literature and artwork of different cultures and time periods? Within a certain culture, are some murders considered worse than others? When is murder excusable? For these researchers, dividing homicides into different categories allows them to spot patterns and understand more about the social mores of a given culture. So what are the different kinds of homicide? So far criminologists and other researchers have identified well over a dozen. Here are a few of the most widely studied kinds: Parricide. This refers to the killing of one or both of one's own parents, or to a person who commits such a crime. In many cultures throughout history parricide has been considered worse than many other forms of homicide. This is generally based on a belief that parents are to be revered by their children, so hurting them is an especially egregious offense. Interestingly, the term can also refer to the killing of a father figure, such as the leader of one's country. Regicide. This refers to the killing of a monarch, or the person who does so. In the UK, the term is generally used to refer to monarchs who were executed after receiving a trial, so the term does not necessarily describe a crime. History and literature are both rich with examples of regicide, as absolute monarchies tend to be an unstable system of government. Avunculicide. This is an interesting term referring to the highly specific crime of killing one's own uncle. Although this is not a common problem in the modern US, there are more example of it in history and literature than you may think. The most famous example is Shakespeare's Hamlet, who plotting to kill his uncle Claudius. Art contains many other examples, from Nabokov to the Lion King. Labels: The Taxonomy of Homicide |
