LO1: Understand Social Constructions of Criminality

Question 1

what are Norms

Answer 1

specific rules or socially accepted standards that govern people’s behaviour in particular situations. for example respecting your elders.

Question 2

what are values

Answer 2

Are general principles or guidelines for how we should live our lives. They tell us what’s right and wrong. for example accumulating personal wealth.

Question 3

what is a moral code

Answer 3

a set of basic rules, values and principles held by an individual, group, organisation or society as a whole. for example the police code of ethics.

Question 4

what are Mores

Answer 4

Socially approved norms or standards of moral and ethical behavior. for example the desecration of religious symbols is bad in society

Question 5

what are formal sanctions

Answer 5

imposed by official bodies, punishment for breaking formal (written) rules or laws

Question 6

what are infromal sanctions

Answer 6

when the rules are not formally written down and are perhaps “unspoken” and punishment is not given out by govening bodies, instead by the community.

Question 7

give 3 examples of infromal sanctions

Answer 7

name calling, removal from groups, distancing

Question 8

give 3 examples of formal sanctions

Answer 8

Police sanctions - official warnings
Court sanctions:
Custodial sentences like prison
Community sentences e.g. probation orders, curfews, community payback.

Question 9

what is the legal definition of crime

Answer 9

Any action forbiden by law. that has Actus Reus - “a guilty act” and mens rea - “A guilty mind”

Question 10

define deviance

Answer 10

any behaviour that differs from normal (Unusual, uncommon or out of the ordinary behaviour). this behaviour could be unusual and good like heroically risking one’s own life to save someone else’s, unusual and eccentric or bizarre like talking to trees in the park, unusual and bad or is disapproved of like physically attacking someone for no reason

Question 11

what are the partial defences that can be used

Answer 11

Strict liability - sometimes the wrongful act on its own is enough to convict someone. Even if you don’t intend to do wrong, sometimes it’s still a crime

Self-defence - assaulting someone when it is self defence is not a crime, so long as the force used was reasonable

Question 12

what is the social definition of crime

Answer 12

braking the social norms we have in a society

Question 13

what are the two types of offences

Answer 13

Indictable offences: these are more serious offences, such as murder

Summary offences: these are sell serious offences, such as speeding

Question 14

what are social constructs

Answer 14

A social construct is an idea that has been created and accepted by society rather than simply occurring naturally.

Question 15

why is crime a social construct

Answer 15

its dynamic, contested and contingent .

Question 16

explain how laws change over time

Answer 16

All homosexual acts between men was a made a crime officialy made crime in 1885. Untill 1967 when malesaged 21 or over were legalised then in 2000 homosexuals were Equalised with hetrosexuals with civil partnership is passed in 2004

Question 17

explain how laws change depending on place

Answer 17

Laws change varying on place due to the culture of places being different. For example, in California, the laws are more relaxed around marijuana consumption, compared to the UK, where laws are very strict, and possession is commonly punished by jail time or a hefty fine.

Question 18

explain how laws change depending on culture

Answer 18

Adultery laws change based on culture. In a more modern and accepting culture such as the west or certain parts of asia, adultery is seen as a civil matter that should be settled between the involved parties. In cultures that have heavy religious influence on their laws, such as the Middle East or Indonesia, adultery can have punishments ranging from prison sentences to stoning.