Social Construct of Criminality

Question 1

Social Norms

Answer 1

Social expectations or standards which shape an individuals behaviour in that particular situation or society

Question 2

Social Values

Answer 2

things that a society places importance on and often underline our behaviours

Question 3

Moral Codes

Answer 3

the good ways of behaving

Question 4

Social Mores

Answer 4

they encompass the social norms customs and behaviours of a society

Question 5

Social Definition of Crime

Answer 5

actions labelled as criminal by the society as well as the legal system, punishable by informal sanctions

Question 6

Legal Definition of Crime

Answer 6

behaviour or an act which goes against the written law and can be punished by the legal system

Question 7

Fromal sanctions

Answer 7

sanctions given out my the justice system and law enforcement, they can be given by the police or the courts

Question 8

Informal sanctions

Answer 8

unwritten and unofficial methods used to steer people towards the norms and expectations of the society

Question 9

Deviance

Answer 9

act or behaviour which goes against the social norms and expectations which trigger a critical reaction or disapproval

Question 10

bad behaviour

Answer 10

behaviour that is deviant because it is negative

Question 11

admired behaviour

Answer 11

behaviour that is deviant because it is considered good or admirable despite going against the norms of society

Question 12

odd behaviour

Answer 12

behaviour that is deviant because is it out of the ordinary but often not harmful

Question 13

Ken Plummer

Answer 13

talks about situational deviance which is when an act may be considered as criminal or deviant in one situation but not in another

Question 14

reasons why law varies

Answer 14

●Religon - it may be interpreted to promote or condone certain actions
●public opinion - public views may differ due to differences in norms and values
●Tradition - laws can differ due to ingrained traditional customs of a culture
●different norms and values - different societies put different emphasis on different things

Question 15

Social Construct

Answer 15

something that is not natural or pre-existing which in a society, it is something that has been created, implemented or altered by a society

Question 16

Situational Devinace

Answer 16

when an act may be considered criminal or deviant in one situation but not in another

Question 17

Reasons why law varies (6)

Answer 17

1. Religion
2. Public opinions
3. Sexism/views on women
4. Tradition
5. Different norms and values
6. Different roles of governments

Question 18

How law varies over time

Answer 18

as society advances, there are changes in the values, norms and expectations which alters what the society views as acceptable and unacceptable so certain acts are criminalised/decriminalised

Question 19

Example of how law varies overtime

Answer 19

Capital Punishment (death sentnace), in the 18th century a lot of crimes were punishable by death however that got abolished in 1965 because humans rights have advanced

Question 20

How laws chance from place to place

Answer 20

An act that may be legal in one place can be illegal in another place, this may be because the differences in religion, traditions or governments etc

Question 21

how laws are applied differently

Answer 21

some laws are applied differently based on many factors, one is age, for example the age of criminal responsibility in the UK is 10 however its 12 in Canada