Jealousy as a Driving Force for Murder

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychoanalysis
• Criminology

Background:

• Jealousy is a complex emotion with profound psychological and social implications.
• Crimes of passion, particularly those driven by jealousy, represent a critical area of study in understanding criminal behavior.
• Existing literature often examines jealousy through clinical or legal lenses, with less focus on its psychoanalytic roots in narcissism and desire.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore murder as the ultimate manifestation of jealousy.
• To analyze the psychological dynamics of possessive fury and its link to criminal acts.
• To examine the role of narcissism, gender stereotypes, and pre-oedipal complexes in jealous crimes.

Main Methods:

• Psychoanalytic theory and analytic concepts.
• Analysis of artistic examples and case studies.
• Exploration of concepts such as narcissism, the double, and the pleasure principle.

Main Results:

• Identifies two neurotic forms of possessive fury leading to crimes of passion.
• Examines the criminal potential within seemingly normal subjects, questioning the boundaries of narcissism.
• Highlights the specular dynamics, pre-oedipal fraternal complexes, and psychotic allure in jealous individuals.
• Appraises hedonistic possibilities in crimes of passion, extending beyond the pleasure principle.

Conclusions:

• Murder is presented as the extreme outcome of jealousy, rooted in narcissistic injury.
• Jealous criminals radicalize a universal logic where perceived injustice demands legal infringement for reparation.
• The study underscores the deep connection between primary narcissism, possessiveness, and violent criminal behavior.