Affection was selected to develop a list of five crimes related to this emotion. Although receiving affectionate communication is often connected with favorable results, affection exchange theory contends that in order for emotional interaction to be effective, it must occur within the individual’s tolerance range (Hesse & Mikkelson, 2021). Hence, when affectionate communication exceeds the optimal tolerance range, it may harm individual well-being (Hesse & Mikkelson, 2021). The crimes that may be committed under affection are the following:
- Homicide. People may kill under psychological distress caused by affection. For instance, excessive affection, like affection deprivation, can potentially be detrimental to one’s psychological health (Hesse & Mikkelson, 2021). Thus, unhealthy relationships incorporating unusual affection may lead to murder.
- Stalking. The crime of stalking is merely the unwelcome pursuit of another individual. Following a person, arriving at a person’s home or place of work, initiating harassing phone calls, and leaving written messages or items are all examples of this type of behavior (Stalking, 2019). Stalking can also occur between partners, spouses, or ex-spouses due to affection and jealousy.
- Rape. The crime of rape is frequently known as sexual assault and can be driven by affection. It often refers to non-consensual sexual actions conducted via physical force or against individuals who are legally or otherwise unable to consent (Rape, 2021). Hence, people may commit rape because the individual they feel affectionate about does not consent or cannot consent.
- Domestic Violence. Controlling actions due to intense attachment may result in physical, psychological, or sexual harm. Although both males and females can be victims, men are more likely to commit violence against women (Stewart & Vigod, 2019). Moreover, women’s injuries are more severe than men’s, including death.
- Kidnapping. The affection can be linked to the act of kidnapping and is often associated with this emotion. Kidnapping is typically described as the unlawful relocation of a person from one location to another (Kidnapping, 2019). Children or adults may be abducted because of the offender’s excessive affection.
To conclude, criminal justice can use this information to prevent crimes by increasing detection possibilities. The hotlines for domestic violence, stalking, rape, and abuse should be available and accessible to anyone. Persak (2019) acknowledges that emotions are implicated in moral reasoning regarding crime and anti-social behavior (Persak, 2019). Emotions, in my opinion, are more significant in comprehending criminal behavior since they frequently overwhelm logic, as in crimes involving affection.
References
FindLaw. (2019). Kidnapping. FindLaw. Web.
FindLaw. (2021). Rape. FindLaw. Web.
FindLaw. (2019). Stalking. FindLaw. Web.
Hesse, C., & Mikkelson, A. (2021). Relational and health correlates of excessive affection. Communication Quarterly, 69(3), 320–340. Web.
Persak, N. (2019). Beyond public punitiveness: The role of emotions in criminal law policy. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, 57. 47-58. Web.
Stewart, D. E., & Vigod, S. N. (2019). Update on mental health aspects of intimate partner violence. Medical Clinics of North America, 103(4), 735–749. Web.