Kinslaying

Kinslaying is the act of killing a close relative. In academic and legal discussions the definition typically includes murder of kin by blood or by marriage, though the precise scope varies by jurisdiction and discipline. The term is often used to categorize a subset of homicide with particular social and moral implications due to the close familial bond.

The forms of kinslaying are usually described through specific kin terms: patricide (killing one’s father), matricide (killing one’s mother), fratricide (killing a brother), sororicide (killing a sister), and filicide (killing one’s child). Some definitions also cover other relatives such as grandparents or in-laws. Kinslaying can occur within families (intrafamilial) or involve relatives acting toward kin within a broader social network.

Legal treatment often treats kinslaying as particularly serious, with enhanced penalties or special categories in many jurisdictions. In addition to general homicide laws, some systems maintain distinct concepts such as parricide or filicide with specific historical and criminological significance. Beyond law, kinslaying has a significant impact on families and communities and is a focus of domestic violence prevention, mental health, and social services discussions.

Culturally and historically, kinslaying has appeared as a major theme in myth, religion, and literature, used to explore taboos surrounding family loyalty, vengeance, and the limits of moral authority. Classic examples include the biblical story of Cain and Abel, which is often cited as an early reference to kin slaying; other works, such as tragedies and crime novels, reuse the motif to examine power, jealousy, and revenge.

Related terms include parricide, matricide, patricide, fratricide, sororicide, and filicide.