Criminological theories- Criminality and deviance

Question 1

What is a Value?

Answer 1

general principles or guidelines for how we should live our lives. They tell us what is right and wrong, good
and bad

Question 2

What is a norm?

Answer 2

specific rules or socially accepted standards that
govern people’s behaviour in particular situations

Question 3

What is a moral code?

Answer 3

A set of rules or guidelines that a person or group of people follow in order to live a life that is good

Question 4

What is deviance?

Answer 4

behaviour that is unusual,
uncommon or out of the ordinary in some way

Question 5

What are the 3 types of deviance?

Answer 5

• unusal and good
• unusual and eccentric/bizzare
• unusual and bad

Question 6

What is a sanction?

Answer 6

a punishment for certain behaviours

Question 7

What are the 4 types of sanction?

Answer 7

• formal
• informal
• positive
• acts of social control

Question 8

What is a formal sanction?

Answer 8

imposed by offical bodies, punishments for breaking formal written rules/laws eg, prison sentence for theft

Question 9

What is an informal sanction?

Answer 9

punishments for rules that are not written down/’unspoken’ eg. frowning upon behaviour or name calling

Question 10

What is a positive sanction?

Answer 10

rewarding behaviour/positive reinforcement eg, medal of honour

Question 11

What are sanctions as an act of social control?

Answer 11

ways society seek to control behaviour to ensure conformity so sanctions given to deter deviance

Question 12

What is the social definiton of crime?

Answer 12

a social construct where society decides which acts are wrong and should be punished, not all crimes are harmful acts and not all harmful acts are crimes

Question 13

What 3 main things define crime?

Answer 13

• differing views
• law enforcement (not all crimes enforced)
• law making

Question 14

What is the legal definition of crime?

Answer 14

any act forbidden by criminal law is a crime

Question 15

What would a court consider when reviewing crime?

Answer 15

Actus reus and Mens rea

Question 16

What is actus reus?

Answer 16

the action that constitutes a crime and not the mental state of the criminal, latin for ‘guilty act’

Question 17

What is mens rea?

Answer 17

the intention behind a criminal act, latin for ‘guilty mind’

Question 18

What are the legal exceptions for crimes?

Answer 18

• strict liability
• self-defence

Question 19

What is strict liability?

Answer 19

when the wrongful act on its own is enough for a conviction even if there was no intention

Question 20

What is self defence?

Answer 20

assaulting someone in response to a perceived threat, as long as reasonable force is used

Question 21

What are the 2 main types of offence in UK law?

Answer 21

• summary offence
• indictable offence

Question 22

What is a summary offence?

Answer 22

less serious offences such as speeding

Question 23

What is an indictable offence?

Answer 23

more serious offences like sexual assault or murder

Question 24

What 8 points do judges and magistrates consider?

Answer 24

1. seriousness
2. harm to victim
3. level of blame
4. previous conviction
5. personal circumstance
6. remorse
7. guilty plea
8. likelihood of change in behaviour

Question 25

What are the 4 formal court sanctions?

Answer 25

• custodial sentence
• community sentence
• fines
• discharge

Question 26

What is a custodial sentence?

Answer 26

prison or youth offenders

Question 27

What is a discharge?

Answer 27

offender commiting no offences over a period of time, if they do the court can give a sentence for origional offence as well as new one

Question 28

What are the 3 formal police sanctions?

Answer 28

• cautions
• conditional cautions
• penalty notice for disorder

Question 29

what is a conditonal caution?

Answer 29

have to stick to certain rules eg, treatment for drug abuse. if failure to obide then you can be charged

Question 30

What is a penalty notice for disorder?

Answer 30

minor crimes, you dont get a conviction if you pay penalty