1.1 Flashcards
define values
- general principles and guidelines for how we should live our lives. tell us what’s good/ bad, right/wrong
define norms
- specific rules or socially accepted standards that govern people’s behavior in situations.
example of values
- the respect for human life
- respecting elders
- individual’s accumulating personal wealth (in UK/US)
- individual’s sharing wealth (native American)
example of norms
respecting elders:
- specific rules how elders are meant to be approached (forbidden to look directly at them while speaking, interuptting them, disobey/ disagree with them)
define moral codes
a set of basic rules, values, or principles held by an individual group, organization or society.
example of moral codes
- police code of ethics is a written guide to core principles and standards that officers must uphold and follow.
what are the key features in the police code
- accountability - respect
- integrity - honesty
- openness - objectivity
- fairness - selflessness
- leadership
define deviance
- any behavior that differs from normal. Unusual or uncommon behavior
examples of deviance
- good - risking own life to save someone else
- bizarre - talking to trees, hoarding boxes
- disapproved
of - physically attacking someone for no reason.
what are the forms of deviance
- societies have different rules/ deviance. and can take many forms
- ranges from rape, murder etc, or simply jumping a queue
define formal sanctions
- sanctions imposed by official bodies such as police, schools, courts etc.
- they’re punishments for breaking formal written rules/ laws. eg courts fining an offender for theft, schools suspending or excluding for bullying
define informal sanctions
- used when rules aren’t formally written down and are ‘unspoken’.
- consequences such as being shown disapproval, not speaking to them, telling off, slap on the wrist.
what are positives sanctions
- rewards for good behaviors that society approves of
- eg medals for bravery, praise from parents or teachers
- can be formal or informal
define social control
- all sanctions, formal or informal, positive or negative are all forms of social control.
what is ‘actus reus’ latin for
‘guilty act’
what is ‘mens rea’ latin for
a ‘guilty mind’
define strict liability
- in some cases, mens rea is not required - the act alone is enough to convict.
- factory owner who is negliant and fails to safeguard machienery is liable for injuries to workers resulting from this
- most strict liability offences are regulatory offences. aim at regulating how businesses behave.
- also applies in situations such as speeding or driving without a license. = offences even if unintended
what is self- defense
- assaulting someone (an acteus reus) with deliberation to harm someone (mens rea) is usually criminal act. however if done in self defense, its not a crime.
(as long as force is reasonable)
why do some people have differing views
- some people have different views of what they think are ‘actual crimes’, compared with legal definitions of crimes.
eg people who commit these crimes (fare-dodging, breaking speed limit, soft drugs), may not see themselves as criminals.
why are some criminal laws not enforced
- because they are not on the list of priorities for police.
