1.1 Flashcards
what are values?
general principles for how we should live our lives. they tell us what’s right and wrong, good and bad.
name an example of a value held in all societies
respect for human life
give an example of how certain societies have different values.
in UK and USA they place a high value on individuals accumulating personal wealth.
in many traditional societies- such as native American people place a high value on individuals sharing their wealth with the group. - these societies also place a higher value on respect for their elders.
what are norms?
specific rules or socially accepted standards that govern people’s behaviour in particular situations
explain how norms of a society link to its values
e.g. cultures that pace high value on respect for elders usually have specific norms about how elders are to be approached. this shows that one value underlines a range of specific rules or norms or behaviour
what is a moral code/mores?
basic set of rules, values and principles held by an individual, group, organisation or society.
give an example of how moral codes/mores can be written down.
police code of ethics - 9 police principles (e.g. fairness, respect, honesty, selflessness)
define deviance
any behaviour that differs from the normal
what are the 3 ways that behaviour can be unusual, and give examples for each
- unusual and good - e.g. risking your own life to save someone else’s
- unusual and eccentric/bizarre - e.g. talking to trees in the park, urine drinking.
- unusual and bad - e.g. physically attacking someone for no reason.
what is the legal definition of crime?
any action that is forbidden by the criminal law.
what are the 2 elements that an action needs for a court to consider a defendants action as a crime?
- actus reus - guilty act
- mens rea - a guilty mind
(done something the law forbids and done it with bad intentions.
what are the 2 important exceptions to the actus reus/mens rea principle?
1. strict liability - when’s mens rea isn’t needed for a conviction (the act on its own is enough to convict someone)
e.g. speeding, watching TV without a licence. these are offences, even if you didn’t intent to do wrong.
2. self-defence- assaulting someone (an actus reus) with the deliberate intention to harm them (mens rea) is a criminal act, but if it’s done as self defence, it’s not a crime, as long as the force used was reasonable in the situation.
what is the social definition of crime?
breaking the social norms we have in a society.
what aspects does the social definition of crime include?
differing views:
public have diff views of what acts are ‘really’ crimes, as compared with the legal definitions of crimes.
some people may not see them selves as criminals, e.g. - users of soft drugs, workers who take home stationary from the office.
law enforcement:
not all criminal laws are enforced - some come low on priorities for police -e.g. white collar crimes are often complex, costly and time-consuming to investigate and prosecute. and police may feel enforcing laws on soft drugs is both unpopular and a waste of time
law-making:
not all acts that people think should be crimes have laws passed against them. which actions that get made illegal depends on who had the power to influence the law-makers, such as the media campaigning pressure groups.
but sometimes, laws are changed to reflect changes in public opinion.
an unpopular law may remain in place and opp way round.
what are summary offences?
less serious, such as speeding - tried by magistrates.
