what is crime and deviance Flashcards
what does crime mean?
an action or behaviour that goes against the legislation of a particular country or state
what does deviance means?
actions which go against the norms and values of a society.
These may not be against the law but are frowned upon by most in society
what does social construction mean?
a social phenomena which is not naturally occurring but created by the society which it is found
what way is crime and deviance socially constructed historically?
criminal action and deviant behaviour changes over time.
what was once acceptable may become illegal/ deviant and what was once deviant/ illegal may become acceptable
what are examples of ways crime and deviance are socially constructed historically?
- Homosexuality - Deviant and illegal but is now acceptable
- Taking cocaine - was a legal medicine and is now an illegal narcotic
what way has crime and deviance been contextually consructed?
behaviours that are acceptable in certain situations would not be in others
what are examples of ways crime and deviance has been contextually constructed?
- Bikini on a beach v bikini in the centre of town
- drinking alcohol at 8am compared to drinking alcohol at a party
ways crime and deviance have been culturally constructed?
what is considered acceptable or rude caries depending on the culture your in
an example of the way crime has been socially constructed culturally
- eating with your left hand in Arab nation is considered rude
way crime and deviance has been socially constructed with age?
some behaviours acceptable from certain age groups and some activities are illegal for some age groups
examples of the way crime and deviance has been socially constructed with age
- age restrictions on certain products
- 8 year olds clubbing on a friday night
why do people who have suffered maternal deprivation commit crime?
Bowlby - people deprived of mothers love as a young infant are more likely to become juvenile delinquents which leads to a criminal career
what is the evaluation points for the suggestion that maternal deprivation is a reason people commit crime?
- Out of date - mothers are not the only caregivers
- Not all delinquents come from a broken home
why do people with specific personality traits commit crime?
Freud - ID, ego and superego
personality is a balance for three unconscious areas and when these are out of balance in favour of the id, criminal behaviour occurs as the individual is controlled by basic desires
what is the evaluation for the suggestion that people commit crime due to personality traits?
- Lack of empirical evidence of these processes
- suggests criminals lack control so doesn’t explain white collar crime
why do people with mental abnormality commit crime?
there is some sort of brain damage or mental illness suffered by criminals making them commit crime
what is the evaluation for the suggestion that mental abnormality makes people commit crime?
- criminals become the victims
- hard to prove in some cases
why do people commit crime according to Lambroso?
criminals are less evolved and this was shown in certain features such as large foreheads, big ears and small eyes
what is the evaluation for Lambros’s’ suggestion as to why people commit crime?
- only looked at criminals who had been caught
- these features could be apparent in non-criminals too
why do people commit crime according to genetics?
the warrior gene is present in all humans but in some the gene is mutated which has been linked to more aggressive behaviour, risk taking and impulsiveness which can all be linked to criminal behaviour
what is the evaluation for the suggestion that genetics causes crime?
- we don’t know enough about how the warrior gene works to conclusively link to criminal behaviour
- an excuse for criminal behaviour
