What constitutes self defense?
Speaking in terms of philosophy and psychology, rather that law, here is how to make the distinction. An act of force in true “self-defense” is made with the goal to stop another from harming you. For example a punch with the fist. It would be self-defense if the person was preparing to hit you, or hitting you repeatedly, and the punch was made at the time and situation wherein that punch is intended to prevent yourself from being hit (i.e by disabling them or showing you are capable of force and they should stop). If they are siting on your chest choking you, it is self-defense to sock them in the face in order to get them to let go of your neck. If a person punches you, but then stops and it appears that their only intent was to hit you that one time, but you hit them back anyway, that is retaliation. Retaliation comes from the desire to respond in kind, rather than prevent harm to the self. It is to hurt the person as they hurt you. “They hit first” is a myth of self-defense. It is
