AC1.1 Crime as a social construct Flashcards
What is a social construct?
The meanings we assign to interactions with others and aspects of society
Why is crime a social construct?
Because it is not fixed. What is illegal varies between location and cultures, can change and is influenced by societal reactions to certain acts and government priorities
What does actus reus mean?
A guilty act e.g. you hit someone with your car
What does mens rea mean?
A guilty mind e.g. whether you hit someone with your car on purpose
What are some defences that negate the actus reus / the mens rea?
Automatism (defendant suffers a loss of control), involuntary intoxication
What is the social definition of crime?
An act which offends society
What is the legal definition of crime?
An act that breaks the law and for which you will be punished by the legal system
What is deviancy?
Behaviour that goes against societal norms and values
What are the 3 types of deviant behaviour?
Admired behaviour, odd behaviour, bad behaviour
What is a value?
Rules shared by most people in a given culture
What is a norm?
Social expectation that guide behaviour and explain why people act in the way they do
What is a moral code?
Whether behaviours are seen as good or bad by a society
What is Howard Becker’s labelling theory (1963)
That idea that when people are given a label, they often live up to it, which is known as a self-fulfilling prophecy. Becker believed that no act was inherently deviant, instead deviance depends on who commits a crime, who sees it, what action is taken and whether it elicits a social reaction
What are formal sanctions?
Sanctions imposed by official bodies such as the police or a court
What are court sanctions?
Custodial sentences, community sentences, fines, conditional discharge
What are non-court sanctions?
Cautions, conditional cautions, penalty notices
What are informal sanctions?
Sanctions that aren’t given by an offical body e.g. detention at school, estrangement from family
What are positive sanctions?
Sanctions that reward behaviour e.g. praise, gifts
What are negative sanctions?
Sanctions that punish behaviour
What is the purpose of sanctions?
To help maintain social control
