Introduction: Honor killings have emerged as a concerning social issue in recent years, drawing the attention of researchers, social experts, and legal professionals. Honor killings can be broadly defined as acts of violence or abuse committed to preserve the perceived honor of a family or community. These killings can be categorized into two main types: intra-family and extra-family. Intra-family honor killings refer to murders carried out by family members against other members of the same family, either alone or with the involvement of outsiders. This can include the killing of a wife, husband, child, or parent by other relatives. In contrast, extra-family honor killings are acts of retribution committed by the victim of a crime, such as rape, or by the victim's family, against the perpetrators. The complex and often tragic nature of honor killings has made them a subject of intense scrutiny and debate within academic, social, and legal spheres. Understanding the nuances and underlying sociocultural factors driving this phenomenon is crucial for developing effective interventions and policies to address this pressing issue. Materials and Methods This study employed a qualitative research methodology. The study population consisted of 18 incarcerated individuals, who had committed acts of murder - 16 men and 2 women. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants. The research was conducted in West Azerbaijan Province and the data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews. For the data analysis, a coding and data organization approach based on the CHARMS framework was utilized. This allowed the researchers to systematically analyze the interview transcripts and identify key themes and insights from the participants' firsthand experiences and perspectives on committing acts of honor-related violence. The qualitative design and targeted sampling of individuals directly involved in honor killings provided an in-depth, contextual understanding of this complex social phenomenon. The use of semi-structured interviews facilitated a rich exploration of the motivations, decision-making processes, and sociocultural factors underlying honor-based crimes from the perpetrators' own narratives. Overall, the methodological approach enabled a nuanced, evidence-based investigation of the honor killing issue within the specific geographic and cultural setting of West Azerbaijan Province. Discussion of Results & Conclusion The sociological interpretivist approach, with its emphasis on social constructionism, posits that social actors play a central role in constructing and reconstructing their social realities. From this perspective, honor killings can be understood as conscious attempts by individuals and groups to defend family honor and traditional social order in the face of modernization and changing lifestyles. Honor killings are a complex, multifaceted phenomenon rooted in various sociocultural dimensions. They are more prevalent in traditional, transitional societies where informal social controls and a collective sense of honor serve as a de facto "punitive law" to restore the perceived honor of the family as the dominant social unit. In these contexts, honor killings function as a technique of social control, with women's sexuality and social behavior being key markers of communal honor. In societies undergoing the shift from tradition to modernity, honor killings often arise from the conflict and tension between the forces of traditional solidarity and the forces of modern individualism. This "cultural lag" between the realms of family and individual creates a dissonance that can culminate in honor-based violence as groups with ethnic, tribal, or local subcultures struggle to maintain their customs and norms in the face of modernizing influences. The findings of this study identified 35 primary concepts, 6 secondary concepts, (including structural determinants, intra-group order, introduction of modern elements, weakening of traditions, externalization, and the conflict between the individual and society), and 4 core conceptual categories (the family's traditional order, changing lifestyles, the modern family outside the traditional order, and the pursuit of illegitimate opportunities). The overarching theoretical category that emerges is "conflict in the new family system" - the "cultural lag" in the family sphere that fuels honor-based violence. Understanding the complex, multifaceted nature of honor killings through a sociological, interpretivist lens is crucial for developing effective interventions and policies to address this persistent social issue. Recognizing the interplay between tradition, modernity, and the evolving dynamics of the family can inform more nuanced, context-sensitive approaches to preventing and responding to honor-based crimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]