The nature of crime, deviance and social control Flashcards
What is a norm?
Norms define appropriate and acceptable behaviour
How do Downes and Rock define deviance?
Deviance may be considered as banned or controlled behaviour which is likely to attract punishment or disapproval
How does Pease define crime?
Crimes are those actions deemed so disturbing to citizens or disruptive to society as to justify state intervention
Why is Muncie critical of the idea of crime?
He says ‘Any number of damaging events are far more serious than those that make up the crime problem’
What varying forms can take deviance in our society?
Open and public deviance, Secret and private deviance, Individual and collective deviance
What is secret and private deviance?
Deviance conducted in private which is often concealed from the wider society
What is open and public deviance?
Deviance conducted in public which is not concealed from the wider society
What is individual deviance?
The deviant behaviour of an individual
What is collective deviance?
The deviant behaviour of a group of people
Plummer points out that ‘time’ is an element of deviant behaviour. What does he mean by this?
The time that is available to the individual who wishes to commit a deviant act will affect form of deviance they engage in
Why is deviance generally agreed to be a ‘relative concept’?
Because crime and deviance are relative to time, place and culture
What is formal social control?
Institutions specifically set up to enforce social control - in particular, institutions which create and enforce the law
What is informal social control?
Institutions and groups which are not directly concerned with enforcing social control, yet still play an important part in controlling the behaviours of others