LO1 Flashcards
what are norms
unwritten rules
socially accepted standards
specific and vary according to cultures
what are values
general principles or guidelines, what a society thinks is good or bad
more general than norms, varies between cultures, some apply to all
moral codes
rules that individuals, groups or communities might follow
can be written or unwritten
what is deviance
behaviour that differs from normal, different or strange
can be good, bad, or unusual
‘good’ deviance
behaviour that is unusual and good
e,g risking your own life to save someone else’s
‘unusual’ deviance
behaviour that is unusual and odd
e,g talking to the trees in the park, walking in circles
‘bad’ deviance
behaviour that is unusual and bad or disapproved
e,g physically or verbally attacking someone
informal sanctions of deviance
used when rules are not formally written
e,g showing you are upset with someone else
• frowning upon behaviour
• carers grounding a child
• someone laughing at their peer when having to stay behind after class
formal sanctions of deviance
imposed by official bodies (government, police, schools)
punishment’s for breaking formal written rules or laws
e,g suspending a student
• fines and possible imprisonment
• setting a detention
• excluding a child for breaking the rules
what behaviours are deviant, but not criminal
shouting in a library
hoarding things
excessively washing your hands
what behaviours are criminal, but not deviant
going slightly over the speed limit
illegally downloading music
what behaviours are both criminal and deviant
theft / burglary
arson
murder
social definition of criminal behaviour
an act that offends and goes against what a community says is a crime
can differ between cultures and over time
legal definition of criminal behaviour
any action that is forbidden by criminal law
for a court to consider a defendants action to be a crime, the action must have to elements
1) actus reus (a guilty act)
2) mens rea (a guilty mind) (intent)
what is strict liability
when consequences are so serious, mens rea is not required
self defence
defendant may have actus reus and mens rea, but may be found not guilty or face a lesser conviction / sentence
summary offences
less serious offences
e,g speeding
indictable offences
more serious offences
e,g rape or murder
formal sanctions against criminals
non – court sanctions
court sanctions
non – court sanctions
cautions
conditional cautions
penalty notices
court sanctions
custodial sentences
community sentences
fines
discharge
social construction
something that has been defined by society, rather than occurring naturally
what counts as criminality is whether a society defines acts as criminal
can vary between cultures and other society’s
social construction of criminality
differences between cultures
differences over time
differences according to circumstances
differences between places
differences between cultures
adultery and
homosexuality
differences over time
homosexuality and
gun control
differences according to circumstances
age of criminal responsibility and
homicide
differences between places
drug laws and
jaywalking
