AC 1.1

Question 1

Values

Answer 1

These are general principles or guidelines for how we should live our lives. They tell us what is right and wrong or good and bad.
e.g., respect for human life

Question 2

Norms

Answer 2

Norms are specific rules or socially accepted standards that govern peoples behaviour in particular situations.

Question 3

Moral codes

Answer 3

Describes a basic set of rules, values and principles held by an individual, group, organisation or society as a whole.

Question 4

Deviance

Answer 4

Any behaviour that differs from normal.
It is a behaviour that is unusual, uncommon or out of the ordinary in some way.
There are 3 types of deviancy:
- behaviour that is unusual and good such as risking your life to save someone
- behaviour that is unusual and eccentric/bizarre such as hugging trees
- behaviour that is unusual and bad such as attacking someone for no reason

Question 5

Formal sanctions

Answer 5

Ones that are imposed by official bodies such as police, courts, schools and other institutions.
They are punishments for breaking formal written rules or laws.
e.g., the court may fine someone for littering or a school may exclude a pupil for bullying.

Question 6

Informal sanction

Answer 6

Used when the rules are not formally written down and are ‘unspoken’.
When someone breaks these rules others then show disapproval in informal ways.
e.g., refusing to speak to someone

Question 7

Positive sanctions

Answer 7

Sanctions can be positive.
Rewards for behaviour that society approves of.
e.g., getting a medal for bravery.
These can be formal or informal

Question 8

Negative sanctions

Answer 8

Recieving a punishment for a behaviour.
They receive something negative for a behaviour as a deterrent so they don’t do it again.
e.g., having your phone taken off of you because you didn’t do your homework.
These can be formal or informal.

Question 9

Social control

Answer 9

All sanctions (formal, informal, positive, negative) are forms of social control.
These are ways in which society sees to control our behaviour and ensure that we conform to its norms and behave in a way that others expect us to.

Question 10

Criminal

Answer 10

In law, criminal behaviour is an act that is forbidden by the criminal law.
For a court to consider an act criminal it must have 2 elements:
- actus reus ~ a guilty act
- mens rea ~ a guilty mind

The defendant must of done something that the law forbids and they must have done so with bad intentions.

Not all harmful acts are in fact criminal.
e.g., there are anti pollutant laws regarding the levels of how much a pollutant firm can emit but this still causes harm to the environment.

Not all criminal acts are particularly harmful.
Many are seen as victimless.
We can gain a better understanding of criminal behaviour by considering the social definition.
The public often have a different view of what acts are really crimes compared to the legal definitions.
e.g., may not see going a little over the speed limit or doing soft drugs as a crime

Question 11

Summary offences

Answer 11

Minor crimes
Less serious offences
e.g., speeding
Tried by magistrates

Question 12

Indictable offences

Answer 12

Major crimes
More serious offences
e.g., rape or murder
They are tried by a crown court before a judge and jury.
Sentences are more severe.

Question 13

7 categories for indictable offences with examples§

Answer 13

Violence against the person - murder, manslaughter,assault
Sexual offences - rape, sex trafficking, child abuse
Offences against property - burglary, theft, robbery
Fraud and forgery - frauds by company directors
Criminal damage - arson
Drug offences - supplying or possession heroin
Public order offences - riot and violent disorder

Question 14

court sanctions - custodial sentences

Answer 14

Imprisonment or detention in a young offenders institution.
Length of the sentence can vary.
Prisoners serving a life sentence can request parole after 15 years.

Question 15

court sanctions - community sentences

Answer 15

They are served in the community rather than jail.
They include probation orders, restrictions e.g., curfew, anger management courses, drug testing or community payback.
May also be fined.
The amount fined depends on the seriousness of the offence and if its a repeat offence.

Question 16

court sanctions - discharge

Answer 16

A conditional discharge involves the offender committing no further offence for a given period, if they commit an offence during this period then the court can impose a sentence for the original offence as well as the new one.
An unconditional discharge may be given when the defendant is technically guilty but the punishment isn’t appropriate so its not classed as a conviction.

Question 17

police sanctions - cautions

Answer 17

Warnings that are given out by the police or crown prosecution.
They are given to low level offenders.
e.g., graffiti
You must admit to the crime and agree to be cautioned.
You can be arrested and charged if you don’t accept the caution.
Although a caution isn’t a conviction, it can be used as evidence of a bad character in court in the future.

Question 18

police sanctions - conditional cautions

Answer 18

You have to stick to certain rules and restrictions
e.g., going to treatment for drug abuse.
If you break the conditions, you could be charged.

Question 19

police sanctions - penalty notices for disorder (fine)

Answer 19

Can be used for minor crimes
e..g, shoplifting
You wont get a conviction if you pay the penalty.
If you disagree with the penalty notice, you can go to trial instead

Question 20

Other implications of committing a criminal act

Answer 20

As well as the court punishment, the criminal may also receive a criminal record.
There may also be other implications depending on the crime committed:
- exclusion from certain occupations e.g., working with young people
- may be placed on the violent and sex offenders register (ViSOR)
- may be banned from travelling to certain countries
- may have restrictions on adopting

Question 21

criminal and deviant

Answer 21

Most acts that are criminal are also regarded as deviant.
Some acts are universally seen as forbidden so fit into this criteria
e.g., murder
Society classes these deviant acts as criminal to express extreme disapproval and provide punishment for it.

Question 22

criminal but not deviant

Answer 22

Not all acts that are classified as a crime are forms of deviance.
e.g., possessing cannabis is a crime but some may not see it as bad behaviour.
However, society has a division of whether they deem an act to be deviant or not
e.g., some see possessing cannabis as morally wrong so would deem it to be deviant

Question 23

deviant but not criminal

Answer 23

Some people see some acts as deviant but don’t think they are criminal.
e.g., even though homosexuality in the UK is legal, some still see it as wrong
This issue comes about when social attitudes change.
Some may not see something as acceptable and this may lead to a change in the law whilst others continue to think that the behaviour is wrong.