Matricide is a noun that refers to the act of killing one's own mother. It derives from the Latin word "matricida," which combines "mater" (mother) and "caedere" (to kill). Matricide is a highly specific term and focuses solely on the act of a person causing the death of their biological mother.
The term connotes a grave offense and is associated with deeply disturbing and shocking criminal acts. Matricide is considered an extremely rare occurrence, as it goes against the basic instinct of human beings to protect and care for their parents, particularly their mother.
Throughout history, matricide has been seen as a significant and heinous crime with moral and psychological implications. It has often been the subject of psychological studies, psychiatric evaluations, and legal proceedings due to the complex motives and mental states that may drive an individual to commit such an act.
In the field of psychology, matricide has also been analyzed in relation to the troubled dynamics of the mother-child relationship, exploring pathologies such as intense hatred, unresolved trauma, mental illness, or sociopathic tendencies in the perpetrator. Scholars have studied various motives behind matricide, including revenge, religious beliefs, mental disturbance, or even as a way to gain inheritance or escape perceived control.
Matricide is generally considered a form of parricide (the killing of a close relative), but it stands out due to the unique bond between a mother and child and the symbolic significance attributed to the maternal figure in societies around the world.
