PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACHES TO HATE AND AGGRESSION: A Crime by Any Other Name: The Semantics of “Hate”

PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACHES TO HATE AND AGGRESSION
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A Crime by Any Other Name: The Semantics of “Hate”
The phrase “hate crime” has been debated for decades due to its dilemmas and difficulties. This term is often used to justify the root cause of violent crimes, believing that perpetrators express hate towards their victims. The article has effectively presented the author's argument about her dissatisfaction with the continued reliance on the phrase. As argued by the author, there has been an increasing misunderstanding and misuse of the phrase “hate crime” as a semantics issue. The language used influences how things are perceived and how various confronting situations are interpreted. This is an essential factor that should be considered in using the phrase “hate crime” to describe violent crimes.
Upon reading the article, what struck me most is the importance of analyzing the context to understand better the correct usage of words that refers to violent crimes. As presented by the article, the phrase “hate crimes” itself is deeply problematic. Hate refers to a subjective emotion expresses by an individual. If all crimes are assumed to be rooted in a feeling of malevolence, then there is no sense in categorizing crime according to its motivation or class. I like the presentation of the author’s argument and how it was supported by evidence and viewpoints of people who possess the same line of thought. The author effectively tackled the issue by expressing her thoughts on why it is inappropriate to use the phrase that connotes violence. The challenge to think critically about the usage of words in describing a particular act is new to me since it broadens my mind to new perspectives and is open-minded to others' opinions on the implications of language us...