Unit 2 - AC 1.1 - Criminal and Deviance Flashcards
Values
Principles and guidelines that teaches us what’s right and wrong and how we should live our lives, while conforming to values.
Norms
The specific standards, generally set by the society, that governs an individual’s behaviour in order to make them fit into the society and be socially accepted.
Moral codes
A set of rules, values and principles that an individual or the society lives by, which is considered to be very important.
They are also known as ethical codes.
- Deviance
- Describe different forms of deviant behaviour
Deviance refers to the abnormal and unusual behaviour, which can be considered as either positive or negative.
Forms of deviant behaviour:
- unusual and good; saving someone’s life
- unusual and eccentric or bizarre; talking to yourself
- unusual and bad or disapproved; physical assault
Why are some people sterotyped as deviant while others are not?
Media, moral panic
Some people have prejudice views about specific group people and stereotype them as deviant individuals, mainly because of the media representation of the certain people as media calls out on them very distinctly. This is done through the catchy style of headlines the articles have, which creates moral panic within the society and towards the specific individuals.
Formal sanctions
They are placed by the official bodies (schools, police, companies) because a formal, written rule or law has been broken.
Sanctions include fines, exclusions from school and imprisonment.
Informal sanctions
When rules are not formally written down and have been broken or disregarded.
Sanctions include parents grounding their child, labelling the negative behaviour and criticising.
Positive sanctions
These refer to the rewards given for excellent behaviour that is well-approved, especially by the societies. They can be formal and informal
Sanctions include giving medals, certificates and praises
Social control
All sanctions are forms of social control.
Criminal behaviour
2 elements required to consider the crime
Someone conducts an act which is forbidden by the criminal law.
- Actus reus, which is the ‘guilty act’. It can also include if someone failed to do an act that could potentially save the life.
- Mens rea, which is the ‘guilty mind’. The decision/intention to do something and being reckless (knows the consequences but still attempts to do it.
What are the two exceptions to the requirement for criminal behaviour?
-
Strict liability - this is when the mens rea is not needed as the physical act (actus reus) is enough for it be considered as a criminal offence.
Most are regulatory offences - Self-defence - if actus reus and mens rea is committed in self-defence, it’s not considered as crime IF the force was reasonable and necessary at that time.
Give an example of strict liability
- speeding
- drink driving
- watching TV without licence
- factor owner who’s negligent and fails to safeguard dangerous machinery is liable for the injuries to workers, even if the owner had no intention to harm them.
Social definition of criminal behaviour
examples?
Not all harmful acts are criminal
Some acts are considered as criminal acts while the criminal law doesn’t and vice versa
Speeding
users of soft drugs
cheating in a relationship
What influences the creation and enforcement of laws?
The power to influence law-makers can come from the media, campaigning pressure groups, or big business.
Why do laws change over time?
Laws are changed to reflect the changes in public opinion and respond to the issues arising and are becoming a public concern.
