Ahmad Kalateh Saddati - Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
Kurosh Zare - Department of Law, Islamic Azad University of Shiraz, Shiraz, Iran
Fatemeh Teymuri - Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
Seyyed Taghi Heydari - Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Background: Murder is a violent social behavior, which stems from variousreasons. The purpose of the present research is to evaluate the reasons formurder from the perspective of killers.Methods: The present research is a qualitative study which involves 23 malekillers sampled purposefully from Adel Abad prison in Shiraz. Afterconducting a semi-structured interview, data was analysed through qualitativecontent analysis.Results: The results showed that three reasons including Honor (fear ofprolongation of trial, recognition of the legitimacy of murder), unintentional(mental stress, consumption of alcohol and psychotropic substances,availability of weapons), and subcultural values (considering crime to be anormal event) are the major reasons for emergence of murder among thesepeople. Results of the research indicate that murder occurs based oninterpretive structures of actors; which form their values and behaviors andpotentially can lead to murder.Conclusion: In order to decline violent behavior especially murder; policiesof the judicial system in the country should ensure security for citizens. Thissecurity can be achieved through non-prolonged trials, timeliness of lawespecially in matters of Honor, banning weapons in civil society andultimately reducing the influence of anti-social and subcultural values invarious social contexts.

Violent Behavior, Murder, Qualitative Method, InterpretiveSociology