Battered Woman Syndrome, Premenstrual Syndrome and Diminished Responsibility

Essay

Introduction
Mental disorder or illness within the individuals has contributed immensely in terms of
acceleration of the crime rates. The psychiatric traits and characteristics facilitate as a
potential cause for enhancing the possibility of an individual to commit a specific crime. It
can be said that women diagnosed with mental illness are prone to commit crime at higher
chances due to the fact that they become more violent, ignorant and impulsive (Palionienė,
2018). The essay focuses upon the comprehensive and critical examination of the relevance
of the statement i.e. Battered woman syndrome and Premenstrual syndrome deny the
aggression and anger showcased by women in context to the defence of diminished
responsibility.
Main Body
Battered Woman Syndrome is a mental condition caused due to violent and abusive
relationships. The women suffering from the concerned illness tend to act irrational in
certain course of events due to excessive anger and anxiousness which are found to be the
common symptoms of the particular syndrome. They suffer mental retardation, insomnia,
panic attacks etc. Premenstrual syndrome is a condition faced by women before the arrival of
their monthly menstruation cycle. The syndrome leads to hormonal changes in women which
further impacts their mind and body on a complex level. PMS triggers mood swings and
negative emotions within women and cause irritation and aggression within the same. Both
the conditions lead to the arousal of mental strain within women which sets implication upon
their thinking, behaviour and actions.
It can be said that women across the globe have highlighted their conditions pertaining to
BWS and PMS as a defence mechanism in the course of jurisdiction. There have been several
debates on the topic relating to women’s mental conditions, their aggression and its relation
to diminished responsibility. The judgement is highly controversial in these sort of cases
because the severity of mental incapacity that led to the crime vary from individual to
individual in the specific circumstance.