Compare Criminal Behaviour And Deviance

Question 1

Define deviance

Answer 1

Behaviour that is unusual and bad or disapproved of by society

Question 2

Define criminal behaviour

Answer 2

Any action forbidden by criminal law usually involves actus Reus and Mens rea

Examples: murder, theft, vandalism, drug offences, rape, speeding etc

Question 3

Norms, values and moral codes

Answer 3

Norm: rules set in place by society - in the uk we tend to queue up in an orderly fashion not push or cut the line

Value: belief about what is important for example we value human life

Moral code: morals or good ways of behaving. the police code of ethics

Question 4

Define policy

Answer 4

A course or principle of action : what you put in place so solve an issue

For example the police have a zero tolerance approach to illegal drug taking

Question 5

What is social change

Answer 5

The way society has altered and changed

Question 6

Public perception of crime: what happened before the change and after:why did it change?

Answer 6

How society views crime- example: drunk driving

Before the change: not thought to be a serious crime: government did not collect statistics on number of deaths caused by drunk driving. (Seen as a social norm)

After the change: society now doesn’t approve drunk driving and now goes against social mores: new offence or causing death by dangerous driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol with a compulsory prison sentence of 5 years. (Number of drunk driving deaths have reduced since the 1970s)

Why did it change: people attitudes changed could be down to personal experiences : intensive campaigns by the government to make People more aware of the consequences: it was criminalises to deterred people

Question 7

Social structural and demographic change. what happened before the change and after:why did it change?

Answer 7

Example: immigration and racism

Before change: 1956 survey in Birmingham showed that 1.5% of whites would willingly let to a black tenant. The rest of society wouldn’t. This was all legal- social norm to be racist

After change: 2010 equality making discrimination on the grounds of race illegal. British attitudes Surveys indicates a decline in racists attitudes. (From 39% in 1987 to 26% in 2017)

Why did it change: Britain is now a multi cultural society and social attitudes have changed as a result.

However 26% of the British public still admit to being racist

Question 8

Cultural changes: what happened before the change and after:why did it change?

Answer 8

Example: LGTB rights

Before the change: homosexuality was illegal and by 1954 over 1000 men were imprisoned. Homosexuality was against social norms

After change: 1967: homosexuality was decriminalised as a result of campaigns. Age of consent lowered to 18 in 1994 and 16 in 2000

Why did it change: individualism- sexuality is a private matter and the state has no right to interfere. Secularisation: no religious belief