AC1.2 Social construction of criminality Flashcards
1
Q
How is criminality a social construct?
A
Legal status of behaviour (defined as crime or not) doesn’t lie within the behaviour itself, but the social response to that behaviour
2
Q
What is the legal status of a behaviour often changed by?
A
Social movements
May entail considerable social conflict
3
Q
Give 2 examples of how laws change from culture to culture
A
- Monogamy - UK = expected, other societies = polygamy
2. Honour killings - justified in some societies, UK = murder
4
Q
Give 2 examples of how the law has changed over time
A
- Homosexuality = decriminalised in 1967
2. Rape within a marriage was legal until 1991
5
Q
Give an example of how the circumstances in which the act occurs depends on how the law is applied
A
Act of murder
- Under the Queen’s peace?
- Do they have the MR? (IVMS)
- Self defence (V/IVMS)
6
Q
How has the media help to change to social construction of crime?
A
Through campaigns
e.g. psychological abuse now = DA, not just physical
