crimes of passion
Rage-driven violent acts
Crimes of passion are violent acts, typically murder, committed in a sudden rage triggered by emotional provocation—usually discovering a spouse's infidelity or similar betrayal.
The term implies the perpetrator acted on overwhelming emotion rather than premeditation: His attorney argued it was a crime of passion, not calculated murder.
Some legal systems historically treated such crimes more leniently, though this distinction has diminished.
- homicidesKillings of humans
- rageIntense, violent anger
- blind rageUncontrolled, unseeing anger
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- legal consequencesOutcomes from breaking laws
heat of the moment · second degree murder · panic · jealousy · jilted lover · trials · mitigating circumstances · betrayal · felony · manslaughter · infidelity · obsession · unrequited love · love triangles · fatal attraction · impulsivity · provocation · film noir
crimes of passionpremeditated murder
Deliberate, planned killing
conspiracy to murder · contract killing · assassination · first-degree murder · plotting
crimes of passioncontract killing
Paid assassination job
murder for hire · political assassination · organized crime · white-collar crime · terrorism
crime, crimes, criminal, criminals, criminality, criminalize, criminalized, criminalizing, criminalization