Characteristics of Affect in Criminal Law and Psychology

Abstract

Emotional state, though not a legal concept, becomes crucial in qualification of offenses under Article 107 and Article 113 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The article defines affect as both psychological and criminal law categories making emphasis on differences in their interpretations. The author proves that from psychological point of view when a crime of passion is committed it involves direct intent only, because an offender intended to eliminate a stimulus that causes strong feelings. The author examines peculiarities of the state of a person subjected to the long psycho-injuring situation. The paper demonstrates differences between the state of affect and partial sanity. The author concludes that a person in the state of affect, at the same time, may be recognized to be partially sane. With this regard, the author highlights the necessity to take into account partial sanity of such a person as a circumstance mitigating the punishment when it is qualified under Article 107 or Article 113 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.