KUWAIT: Humanity has been plagued by criminal acts that have resulted in many victims being killed due to ignorance and superstitions passed down from one generation to another and prevailing in many cultures across the globe. What is even more troubling is that, in many cases, the law justifies the killer’s crime under the pretext of social norms and some prevailing misconceptions. To understand the reasons behind these crimes and their social justifications, Kuwait Times interviewed psychologist Jumanah Mohammed.

Jumanah clarified that crimes are crimes, regardless of the false justification they may be given by society: “Unfortunately, some people wrap criminal acts under the guise of “honor motive,” dominating individual culture until it becomes a societal norm. This leads individuals to respond to wrongdoing with more wrongdoing and results in dire consequences for both parties.

Jumanah attributed the motive for criminal behavior and the difficulty in controlling emotions to the fact that a person may become a criminal, even if such behavior is provoked or later justified by society. Since a person consists of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, difficulty in controlling emotions such as anger and shame leads to impulsivity and rash actions, away from wisdom. This creates a killer who justifies criminal behavior,” she said.

Jumanah Mohammed

Moreover, Jumanah emphasized the importance of seeking help if an individual struggles with controlling violent emotions, as specialists can assist individuals in channeling their thoughts in a humane and civilized manner, away from the societal barbarism that affects many mindsets in various communities.

“In psychological awareness and education, the focus is on changing mindset by raising awareness about the consequences of honor crimes like imprisonment and their psychological impact on the perpetrator and their families, whether immediate or long-term. This gradually diminishes feelings of anger and impulsiveness, leading to behavioral change by preventing the inclination towards honor crimes,” she concluded.