topic 4 : Social Constructions of Criminality

Question 1

What’s the difference between crime and deviance?

Answer 1

Crime is an act that has broken the law where as a deviant act is an act that is deemed “socially unacceptable” or a violation of society’s norms and values.

Question 2

Define “values” and provide an example.

Answer 2

Values are general guidelines or principles for how we should live our lives. They tell us what is right/wrong, important/not important and good/bad. They are commonly shared by a community, i.e. religion.

Question 3

Define “norms” and provide an example.

Answer 3

Norms are specific rules or socially accepted standards that guide our behaviour in particular situations, i.e. going to work.

Question 4

Define “moral codes” and provide an example.

Answer 4

A set of rules or guidelines that a person or group of people follow in order to live a good and moral life, e.g. ‘treating people how you want to be treated’.

Question 5

Define “deviance”

Answer 5

Deviance is any behaviour that differs from what is considered “normal” in society. Deviant behaviour is behaviour that deviates from the norms and values of society.

Question 6

Name the three types of deviant behaviour

Answer 6

Admired behaviour, odd behaviour, bad behaviour

Question 7

Define “admired behaviour”

Answer 7

Behaviour that violates social norms but would be considered admirable or a positive act.

-e.g spiderman video

Question 8

Define “odd behaviour”

Answer 8

Behaviour that also violates social norms however it is not necessarily immoral or admirable (essentially its not harming anyone).

Question 9

Define “bad behaviour”

Answer 9

Behaviour that is mostly criminal as it breaks the law and puts someone in potential harm.

Question 10

Example of admired behaviour

Answer 10

Risking your own life to save someone else’s

Question 11

Example of odd behaviour

Answer 11

Owning 50 cats

Question 12

Example of bad behaviour

Answer 12

Beating someone up

Question 13

Define “crime”

Answer 13

Any action or behaviour that is forbidden by the criminal law, and for which you can be punished by the legal system.

Question 14

Define “actus reus”

Answer 14

The guilty act (the physical act that causes harm to another person). Literally translated it means “actions crime”.

Question 15

Define “mens rea”

Answer 15

The intent (the guilty mind with the intention to commit the act). Literally translated it means “guilty mind”.

Question 16

Name the 6 types of criminal acts

Answer 16

Fatal offences against the person, non-fatal offences against the person, offences against property, sexual offences, public order offences, drug offences.

Question 17

Example of a public order offence

Answer 17

Affray (a fight between two people in public)

Question 18

Example of a non-fatal offence against the person

Answer 18

GBH

Question 19

Example of an offence against property

Answer 19

Burglary

Question 20

Define “sanctions”

Answer 20

A sanction is a form of social pressure that either punishes people for committing or deters people from committing negative behaviour.

Question 21

What’s the difference between formal and informal sanctions

Answer 21

Formal sanctions are imposed by official bodies such as police, courts etc… and are punishments for breaking official laws where as informal sanctions are used when rules are not formally written down/”unspoken”.

Question 22

What acts would a formal sanction be used in and what acts would an informal sanction be used in?

Answer 22

Formal: Both criminal and deviant
Informal: Deviant

Question 23

Give an example of a sanction for deviance

Answer 23

Laughing at someone’s odd behaviour

Question 24

Give an example of a sanction for crime

Answer 24

Prison sentence

Question 25

Name all court sanctions

Answer 25

Custodial sentence (prison), community sentence, fine and discharge

Question 26

Define “discharge”

Answer 26

A conditional sentence (if offender reoffends in a set period they will be arrested).

Question 27

What does a community sentence involve?

Answer 27

Curfews, anger management, community service, drug testing etc…

Question 28

Name all non-court sanctions

Answer 28

Penalty notice, caution and conditional caution

Question 29

What is meant by a conditional caution?

Answer 29

Offender has to agree to certain conditions and e.g. having treatment for drug abuse, repairing damage done to property and if the offender violates these conditions they can be charged with the crime.

Question 30

What is meant by a penalty notice?

Answer 30

The offender signs a penalty notice and agrees to pay the amount stated (a bit like a fine but is dealt with out of court) (similar to a fine).

Question 31

Provide a description and one example for criminal behaviour only

Answer 31

A form of deviance that involves serious, harmful acts that are wrong against society, e.g. speeding.

Question 32

Provide a description and one example for deviant behaviour only

Answer 32

Deviance is any behaviour that differs from normal behaviour but does not harm anyone or go against any formal laws, e.g. rudeness.

Question 33

Provide a description and one example for criminal and deviant behaviour

Answer 33

Behaviour that is both criminal and causes harm to society and one that is not considered the social norms, e.g. murder.

Question 34

Why does crime differ between cultures?

Answer 34

Different cultures/societies have different beliefs about what is acceptable/unacceptable. This can be due to religion, public opinion, sexism/views of women etc…

Question 35

How do social definitions of crime change around the world?

Answer 35

They move with time, public opinions, traditions and different norms, for example as things become more common, they become more normal.

Question 36

What is meant by the social definition of crime?

Answer 36

The idea that crime is a product of the situation in which it takes place (crime is dictated by what is seen as ‘illegal’/unacceptable at any given time/place/country)

Question 37

What does it mean if something is socially constructed?

Answer 37

Something that has been made or defined by society, rather than simply occurring naturally.

Question 38

Define “the social construction of crime”

Answer 38

The idea that crime is a product of the situation in which it takes place (crime is dictated by what is seen as acceptable/unacceptable at any given time/place/country. Crimes can vary according to the time, place, culture and the circumstances in which they occur. What is considered criminal, is only defined by what society decides/agrees is criminal.

Question 39

State the punishment for murder in Saudi Arabia vs France

Answer 39

Death penalty vs life sentence

Question 40

Age of criminal responsibility in Canada

Answer 40

12 years old

Question 41

Age of criminal responsibility in Bangladesh

Answer 41

9 years old

Question 42

Why is it necessary to change laws over time?

Answer 42

Because society evolves over time so our laws need to adapt to change to what is our new social norms.

-e.g drink driving used to be a common thing

Question 43

laws change over time due to social changes, what are 4 social changes

Answer 43

• changes to values and norms
  -changes to public perceptions
  -cultural changes
  -changes to the structure of society

Question 44

laws change due to cultural differences

Answer 44

• cultural differences in law may be like laws that are illegal in one country not another
• they mostly relate to the traditions and religions of that country or community

Question 45

What are examples of laws changing due to cultural differences?

Answer 45

• e.g adultery which is not a crime in the UK but is a crime in many Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia

Question 46

laws change depending on the place

Answer 46

• law may change on the geographical location as they have different norms/values/morals
• may include changes to the law being policed differently in the same country or differences between countries laws

Question 47

What are examples of laws changing depending on the place?

Answer 47

• e.g jaywalking- this is illegal in the us but legal in the UK
• e.g Durham police not enforcing small scale growers and cannabis smokers