Topic 1: Definition and Measurement of Crime and Deviance

Question 1

What does the normative definition of deviance focus on?

Answer 1

Uncovering the causes of deviant behaviour

Question 2

Relativistic definition of deviance

Answer 2

Societies are too complex for there to be a clear set of shared values - there is not a common consensus but a diversity of values

Question 3

What does the Relativistic definition of deviance focus on?

Answer 3

Aims to uncover the processes whereby one set of values dominate

Question 4

The normative definition of deviance can vary between societies, provide an example and what does this reflect?

Answer 4

For example, divorce. This definition reflects modern societies

Question 5

What is the problem with the normative definition of deviance?

Answer 5

It doesn’t consider why some norms are considered more serious than others when they are broken

Question 6

The relativistic approach and the conflict approach

Answer 6

Commonly associated with marxists

The values of society are dominated by and reflect the interests of the ruling class

Question 7

Clinard and Meier

Answer 7

Identified 4 types of definition for deviance

Question 8

What were Clinard and Meier’s definitions of deviance ?

Answer 8

Statistical
Absolutist
Reactivist
Normative

Question 9

What is the statistical definition of deviance?

Answer 9

Deviance occurs when behaviour is very different from the average
What most people do is normal and what a minority do is deviant

Question 10

What is the absolutist definition of deviance?

Answer 10

Sees societies as having ‘shared values’ (collective conscience, value consensus)
If you challenge these values you are seen as deviant

Question 11

Provide a Contemporary Example of the absolutist definition of deviance

Answer 11

As a society we value school, if you bunk you are deviant

Question 12

What is the reactivist definition of deviance?

Answer 12

Deviance is simply a label applied to some acts and the people responsible, it is only considered deviant if someone reacts to it.
If there is no social reaction, then there is no deviance.

Question 13

Labelling theory/interactionist view of deviance

Answer 13

Deviance is not about the act itself but how others judge that act

Question 14

Normative definition of deviance

Answer 14

Violation of social norms and shared values

- Durkheim believes that every society shares a set of core values COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE