A sickening mindset
The realisation of honour killing as a ‘crime’ and ‘mental illness’ is necessary as mental illnesses are also known to be associated with criminal behaviour
In Pakistan, the increasing number of honour crimes is a rising concern. But this concern is only being shown at a personal level and not at a national or collective level. Last year, around 1,000 such cases were reported in Pakistan and killings related to honour and ‘honour killings’ in specific cannot be termed as something justifiable. It would be wrong to say that people who are involved in such killings are in a ‘normal’ state of mind as there are certain psychological aspects that trigger a person to commit such atrocities.
The concept of women as ‘property’ and ‘honour’ remains deeply entrenched in the socio-cultural fabric of our country. As a result, many individuals, including women, support this ritual. The recent case of Qandeel Baloch’s murder by her brother in the name of honour has further sparked the issue but like other cases of honour killing, this too is only being condemned and not taken action upon.
The realisation of honour killing as a ‘crime’ and ‘mental illness’ is necessary as mental illnesses are also known to be associated with criminal behaviour. This is not only a murder, and not at all a murder that could go unpunished, this is a psychological problem as people who are involved in such killings do not, in most cases, show any remorse or guilt.
Feeling proud on taking someone’s life, especially in the name of honour, cannot be described as something normal. This abnormal behaviour can be due to psychopathy which has been widely discussed in psychology in the context of criminality, especially in terms of a person’s characteristically callous and unemotional personality profile.
Social conformity, peer pressure, false religious beliefs in which statements like ‘the honour of a man is reckoned by his wife’s veil’ are misinterpreted, are the psychological reasons behind ‘honour killing’
To further investigate about the causes and psychological factors that lead people to the heinous crime of ‘honour killing’, DNA talked to various psychologists to find out the connection between honour crimes and human psychology.
Male dominant society and stereotype role of a male as saviour, protector and ‘owner’ of females, social conformity – to please the social circle and to fulfill their expectations as male, peer pressure and false religious beliefs in which statements like ‘the honour of a man is reckoned by his wife’s veil’ are misinterpreted are the reasons stated by Dr Kiran Ihsfaq, consultant clinical psychologist at Jinnah Hospital Lahore, while explaining the psychological factors that incline men to commit a murder in the name of honour.
“Low self-esteem pushes a male to gain ‘honour’ in killing a female and not by engaging in healthy and productive activities,” she said.
Some men have poor anger management problem while some are psychopaths –they have problems of addiction, gambling, mood disorders, pathological jealousy, paranoid schizophrenia and other psychiatric conditions which leads them to such a crime, Dr Kiran added.
“Honour killing is taken as a soft offence and usually legal proceedings are not done so it is common,” she regretted, adding that such incidents are common in rural, uneducated and socially deprived class.
To prevent such incidents, she said, the psychologists, working with different NGOs, are targeting religious beings, teachers and other influential parties to change their minds and to change their misconceptions regarding this issue so they may change others’ minds.
The legislation of honour killing as a crime can help, but it would not have any effects unless the conventional and conformist behaviours are changed.
These are the false perceptions and mindset of people in Pakistan, and men in specific, that need to be addressed. The legislation of honour killing as a crime can help, but it would not have any effects unless the conventional and conformist behaviours are changed. Relating the whole concept of ‘honour’ with ‘honour of women’ is what makes a man go crazy if someone says a word about their women.
“Honour killing has been in certain cultures for a long time. Lack of empathy combined with egotistical behaviour while lack of education, both religious and worldly, and lack of wisdom are important factors that lead to it,” said another Psychologist Dr Faisal Mamsa while talking to DNA.
Furthermore, he said, there are no capital punishments by the government for such crimes and the judiciary allows them to take a human life and roam around proudly.
“Name me a single person who has received a capital punishment after murdering in the name of ‘honour’?” Dr Mamsa asked.
There is definitely something wrong with the way they think and behave (psychologically) but every behaviour cannot be labelled, he said.
When asked if the psychologists are taking any steps to help the situation, he said that he has not heard of any.
“For that matter, who is taking the issue seriously?” Dr Mamsa asked, adding that “I, however, plan to do an extended radio programme on this topic but most of the high up individuals I have contacted have refused to give their perspective.”
While criticising the women in the legislative assembly, he said that such incidents are becoming more common with each passing day.
“I wonder why our women who are in the assembly and higher positions are not taking any action against it.”
A prompt action to arrest these murderers should be taken and they should be punished in public so that it gives a lesson to everyone, the psychologist added.
Citing Qandeel Baloch’s case, Dr Sobia Ikram, a clinical psychologist at Global Welfare Organisation, said the reasons may involve lack of education, effect of drug or someone might had paid him for it because an addict’s life revolves around drugs; for them, their father/mother/brother/sister, in short, the whole world is their drug.
Among external factors, someone might taunt men about their women’s character which they cannot digest or their ego cannot accept. Also the words ‘you are a man, she is your honour, death is better than such humility’ provoke them to commit such crimes, Dr Sobia said.
The psychologist further said that Qandeel was famous and this issue was highlighted otherwise hundreds of people die in such incidents but it remains an unattended issue.
The main issue is society’s perception and psychologists can help to change it but they don’t have enough resources and opportunities to address the issue.
‘Honour’ cannot be safeguarded by killing someone, such killings can only reflect the sickening mindset of our society and nothing else
Having illicit relations or marrying someone with one’s own choice is one reason; however, a successful woman also hurts the highly placed ego of our men. Women have outdone themselves and have come forward as progressive members of society, whether in rural or in urban areas. While this women empowerment is important for the country to progress, socially and economically, it has also created a sense of deprivation and an inferiority complex among male members of the society. As most cases of honour killings include murders by male members of a family, this stands another reason behind killings related to honour.
Explaining women empowerment as another reason behind honour crimes, Dr Saba Shabbir Sheikh, another clinical psychologist, said, “Women have excelled men in all the fields and this women empowerment hurts their ego which inclines them to kill, hurt or abuse women – emotionally or physically.”
Due to low self-esteem and lack of satisfaction with their own life in home and work environment, where their sisters and wives have outshined themselves and are getting more respect by others, Dr Saba said, men feel jealous and in that resentment, they hit women because this is the only way they can ‘shut their mouths’.
“I see many cases where females report physical assault by their brothers, husbands or fathers due to their publicity and success,” she added.
Whether the reason is a man’s ego, drug addiction, low self-esteem, social conformity, false perceptions or women empowerment; honour killing is a murder, a crime – something that cannot go unpunished or unaddressed. Whatever personal or external factors may be involved, honour killing is not acceptable in any case.
There is a whole psychology which is behind a man killing women of their ‘family’– an institution which holds great importance in our societal structures. But honour cannot be safeguarded by killing someone, such killings can only reflect the sickening mindset of our society and nothing else.
