The Psychology of Honor Abuse, Violence, and Killings

This important book provides a much-needed exploration and examination of "honor" abuse, violence, and killings from a psychological perspective. Written by a leading authority on the subject, the book draws on a wide range of research and theory on victims and perpetrators to bridge the gap between research and practice.

Presented in two parts, the book begins with a focus on teaching, research, and practice issues in forensic psychology and related criminal justice fields, integral to studying and working with victims and perpetrators of "honor" abuse, violence, and killing. The second part provides an overview of the main issues relevant to the psychology of honor abuse, violence, and killings. These include definitions, prevalence, crime characteristics, victims, and perpetrators. The final chapter presents a new explanatory three-phase model of "honor"-based abuse perpetration. Firsthand personal accounts and detailed cases studies are interwoven throughout, giving a voice to victims and bringing their real-life stories to the forefront.

As the first psychologically based book to synthesize existing and new knowledge on "honor" abuse, the book is a must-read for anyone working with victims and/or perpetrators of "honor" abuse and domestic violence, including criminal justice professionals, mental health practitioners, policymakers, support agencies, emergency workers, and activists. It is also relevant for any students or researchers of gender-based violence and racially minoritized communities.

Winner of the British Psychological Society Book Award 2025.