Defining Crime & Deviance Flashcards
Crime
Usually assoc w/ behav that breaks the formal written laws of a given Soc
punishment of crime likely to = m serious than punishment of deviance
Dif crimes & dif laws treated dif
Deviance
To move away from a set of standards in Soc = m gen than crime & often not controlled legally
Not always negative = behav that violates standard of conduct / expectations of a group / soc - Wickman (1991)
Examples of Crime & Deviance
Speeding = crime
Murder = crime & deviant
Crime & Deviance = Socially Constructed
Both = cul determined - what crime is varies less than what = deviant
Foucault wrote about how the definitions of crim dev, sexual dev & madness have changed throughout history eg 100 yrs ago = dev for women to wear trousers - changes w/ time & place as norms & Soc expectations change
Plummer (1979)
The same act can be dev/ not depending on situ
What is dev for groups = conformity for others - sub culs have dif norms to mainstream Soc
Societal Deviance
Means acts which are seen as dev by most of Soc in most situs
Eg swearing at auth figures- head master, random acts of extreme violence, child abuse
Situational Deviance
Means acts can be dev / normal depending on circumstances
Eg being naked ok at home not on high street, bikini ok at beach not at work
Social Order & Social Control
by def m behav isn’t crim / dev - soc order & control create consensus on how to behave - ppl = soc to believe norms
some norms become 2nd nature - other we conciously think about - red light
sanctions are rewards & punishments & reinforce norms
Postive Sanctions
reward ppl for conforming to norm
Negative Sanctions
punish ppl for dev from norm
Formal Sanctions
carried out by official agency
Informal Sanctions
carried out by public
Positive Formal Sanctions
medal for bravery in armed forces
cup for winning sports final
Positive Informal Sanctions
pat on the back
well done for good behav
Negative Formal Sanctions
fine for speeding
yellow card from referee
