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Name: Amanda Petric

Date: March 10th, 2023

Block: 7th

Question Researched: What is the psychology behind violent crimes (what motivates them) and what can be

done to prevent violent crime from happening in the first place?

400,000 people die from murder every year. Because the rates are so high and keep rising every year, we

should care and learn more about it. Many different factors contribute to people becoming violent and

commiting murder, but there are a few notable causes such as, the environment they grew up in, their

background information, and mental and physical illness.

In order to understand murder, we must understand the causes. One major cause of murders is jealousy.

One author who discusses jealousy notes that this can lead to feeling threatened. They state that “For instance,

political bullying and discourse can lead people to devalue others that they know very little about, especially if

they feel like their livelihood or way of life is being threatened ” (Gordon). This goes together with jealousy

because some people bully and threaten to hurt them, if they are jealous or want something that someone else

has. That tells us that people like to threaten people into getting what they want and if that person doesn’t give it

up, then they will kill them. Another author that considers jealousy in what they write can lead to the feeling of

jealousy. This author is illustrating that people might be angry or not accepting what has happened to them, and

don't like others, even though it may not be their fault. “Likewise, they note that offenders aren’t necessarily

motivated by hate, but instead maybe fearful, jealousy, or anger, instead” (Gordon). This is related to jealousy,

because it says that jealousy is noted by offenders who aren't always motivated by hate, but jealousy. That

shows that people can think of people however they want to think of them, but the crimes still happen because

they want to be them. The last author that talks about jealousy throughout their article is the feeling of wanting

to be someone else. “They assume they know what the person is like and never really see them apart from the
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group. Consequently, these assumptions along with the prejudices and stereotypes can become the foundations

for hate crimes” (Gordon). It shows in this quote, that people also assume people have things because they act

differently, and get jealous of them for what they have and how they act. This also tells us that people stereotype

others, to get what they want or think what they need, and if their request is not sustained, then they will kill

that person. All of this shows that this strong emotion of jealousy can lead to many things, for example, wanting

to be someone else or wanting something someone else has, or murder. People also like to threaten others,

thinking it will change the way people perceive them. Like said in the quote, Gordon talks about people

constantly hating others for even the little things that people do. “They assume they know what the person is

like and never really see them apart from the group. Consequently, these assumptions along with the prejudices

and stereotypes can become the foundations for hate crimes” (Gordon). Overall, these quotes demonstrate that

people do not like others, because they are jealous or want something back, or something that the other person

has and they are not giving it back.

Another major cause of murders is hate crimes. For example, one author from Frontiers, explains that

attackers attack for a reason. “When it comes to defensive offenders, these attackers see themselves as

defending something important to them, like their communities, their workplace, their religion, or their country.

Unlike the thrill-seekers who attack their victims by chance and without warning, defensive offenders target and

victimize specific people” (Nilsson). On the other hand people also kill people, because they dislike them and

just want them to die. People can also hate people for the way they look, or do something because they are

better at it then that person is, but this is also taking effect into jealousy. In addition to doing this because they

feel they are defending, they also feel justified, thinking that “ most of society supports what they do, but are

just too afraid to act” (Hofvander). In this quote, they share that people in society think it’s ok to do this, when

they see other people doing it on television and the news. They perceive it as something good, and that should

happen more often. “Overall, defensive offenders are responsible for 25% of the hate crimes in the U.S. They

rationalize their attacks by identifying some sort of threat to themselves, their identities, or their communities”

(Billstedt). This shows that defensive offenders make up 25% of the hate crimes that happen every year, and the
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percentages keep on rising. This also tells us that people can easily believe others into thinking something that

not true, or that’s not worth it but some people like to believe everything they hear or see on the internet or by

their friends, so it can lead to murder, by thinking line person is talking bad about them or saying things behind

their back. People can disregard others into thinking that they aren’t good enough for them or anyone else. As

said in the quote, “When it comes to defensive offenders, these attackers see themselves as defending something

important to them, like their communities, their workplace, their religion, or their country. Unlike the

thrill-seekers who attack their victims by chance and without warning, defensive offenders target and victimize

specific people” (Nilsson). Instead they would say something and make them think they are worth nothing, and

then kill them. This can make it seem like it’s ok, when one person kills someone, other people can too. This is

a big major leading cause of murders in the United States. Therefore, more hate crimes are committed every

year. Overall, these quotes demonstrate that people often commit crimes and murder, because they want to come

after someone for something they did. Overall, these quotes demonstrate that people also commit crimes

because of hate and hating others for what they have said or done.

One of the last major causes of murders is revenge. One author also explains to us how attackers attack

to get something back in return or if people owe them something and they won’t give it back. “Retaliatory

offenders are motivated by revenge, these offenders are often motivated by something that happened in their

lives. Either they were victimized personally or they witnessed an incident involving hate or terrorism and that

has been the catalyst for their crimes” (Miller). This quote has something to do with revenge, because people

want revenge on other people for things that people have done to them, or their family. For example, someone

might have accidentally killed a loved one in a car crash, but instead of forgiving them, they wanted revenge

and killed their loved one. “Additionally, they often act alone and target those affiliated in some way to the

original offenders. For instance, the retaliatory offender's target may be of the same race or religion as those

they blame for something else, but who had nothing to do with the original crime” (Miller). In this quote, they

mention how people can blame others for what they believe in or their religion, and make them want to hurt

others, because they want them to believe in the thing race or religion they believe in. “These attacks comprise
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8% of the hate crimes committed each year” (Miller). Here they are saying that people are more likely to

commit hate crimes than any other crime. Hate crimes are very common in the U.S. They think that by doing

what they are doing is ok, and not dangerous. In conclusion, people might not like others very much. They may

want the worst for them, but instead of wanting the worst they believe that the easiest thing to do is kill them, so

they’re gone. As stated in the quote, “Retaliatory offenders are motivated by revenge, these offenders are often

motivated by something that happened in their lives. Either they were victimized personally or they witnessed

an incident involving hate or terrorism and that has been the catalyst for their crimes” (Miller), people think that

what they are doing is ok, and they don’t see the outside perspective of it being bad and getting out of hand.

Overall, these quotes demonstrate that people often commit crimes and murder, because they want to come after

someone for an occurrence that happened before.

Mission offensive hate crimes are rare, representing 1% of the hate crimes committed, and are often the

most hate-filled and violent crimes. The people who commit these crimes are often connected to groups that

share their views and see themselves fighting for a race, religion, or political cause. Thrill seeking offenders

happen more often than normal, in 90% of all cases, those who commit these types of crimes don’t even know

they are victims. For this reason, they gravitate toward people who are more vulnerable because of their race,

sexual identity, gender or religious background. They also believe that society doesn’t care what happens to

these victims. In main idea 1, I talked about jealousy being one of the reasons why people think to murder.

People want to be like one another, or want something that they have. In main idea 2, I talked about hate crimes

being another Eason, and how people want to murder someone because they don’t like the other person. And

lastly, in main idea 3, I talked about people wanting revenge so that’s why they murder someone. They want to

get back at another person for something they have done, or said. All of these causes that I just listed, are all

very major causes in murder and what makes people want to murder someone. Although the crimes and murder

rates went up. They are still happening almost everyday, and you should watch your back. In 2000 there were

15,517 murders committed, now there are almost 400,000 murders per year.
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WORKS CITED

Hear Dr. Adrian Raine's plenary address on this topic at APA's 2014 Annual Convention in Washington,

D.C., Aug. 7–10.

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/02/criminal-mind

Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of "Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety

Disorder" and "7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety."

https://www.verywellmind.com/the-psychology-of-racism-5070459

Seidl, Helena. Personality and Cognitive Functions in Violent Offenders – Implications of Character

Maturity? Jan 28, 2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00058/full. Assessed:

April 25, 2023.