The Social Construction of Crime and Deviance

Question 1

social construction of crime - newburn

Answer 1

crime is a label attached to certain forms of prohibited behaviour by the state that has a legal penalty attached to it

Question 2

social construction of crime - what acts are criminal?

Answer 2

no act in itself is criminal

only becomes a crime one the ‘crime’ label is applied

Question 3

social construction of crime - context

Answer 3

similar acts can be treated differently depending on interpretations of law enforcement agencies and context which the act takes place
e.g. killing someone in a knife fight outside a pub (define as criminal) vs with enemy soldier in wartime

Question 4

social construction of crime - changing social attitudes

Answer 4

acts once seen as criminal is no longer regarded

therefore laws have changed overtime (gay)

Question 5

social construction of crime - different countries

Answer 5

criminal law varies

reinforced idea that nothing in itself is criminal

Question 6

social construction of crime - developing explanations

Answer 6

difficult that account for the diverse acts labelled as criminal

Question 7

social construction of deviance - what does deviance include?

Answer 7

criminal and non-criminal acts

Question 8

social construction of deviance - what is difficult to determine?

Answer 8

what members of a society/group regard certain behaviours as deviant

Question 9

social construction of deviance - defining deviance

Answer 9

depends on the social expectations about what is considered normal behaviour
how others react to it
e.g. swearing at your friends vs at a teacher

Question 10

social construction of deviance - societal deviance

Answer 10

acts which is seen by most members of a society as deviant

murder, rape

Question 11

social construction of deviance - situational deviance

Answer 11

acts which are only defined as deviant in particular contexts