Crime and Deviance

Crime

An act that breaks the formal law and rules of the society in which it takes place

Deviance

An act that goes against society’s norms and values

How does Downes and Rock define deviance?

Defines deviance as banned or controlled behaviour which is likely to attract punishment or disapproval

How does Anthony Giddens (1993) define deviance?

Defined deviance as non conformity to a given norm or set of norms, which are accepted by a significant number of people in a community or society

What makes crime and deviance social construction?

Varies across cultures and history, factors include time, place, culture, status, person, norms and values

What are the 2 types of social control

Informal - norms and values, unwritten rules

Formal - enforcements by law

Durkheim ideas of society

Universal beliefs and values of a society are the collective consciousness, laws represent collective beliefs.

Why do people not commit crime? Hirschi

People believe they have more to lose from crime than gain however if one or more social bonds are broken people will think otherwise : attachment to others, commitment to conformity, involvement in conventional activities, belief in morality and validity of social rules.

How does Howard Becker define deviance?

deviance isn't an inherent quality of an act but a label applied by others ‘labeling theory’

What is an example that crime is a social construct?

same sex marriage was illegal but societies views changed resulting in the marriage act 2013

Why do we measure crime?

Measure performance of agencies, set targets, influence policy making, allocate funding

How do we measure crime?

Official statistics, victim surveys, self report studies