What is crime and deviance

Question 1

What is a crime ?

Answer 1

An act which breaks the criminal laws of society

Question 2

What is deviance ?

Answer 2

Refers to the behavior which is disapproved by most people in society and which does not conform to societies norms and values.

Question 3

What are examples of crimes in the UK ?

Answer 3

• murder
• theft
• dangerous driving

Question 4

What are examples of deviance ?

Answer 4

• underage drinking
• smoking
• having an abortion

Question 5

What did Giddens say about conformity to norms ?

Answer 5

Non conformity to given norms or a set of norms
Which are accepted by a significant number of people in a community or society

Question 6

What does Becker say about the social construction of deviance ?

Answer 6

He states:
- no action itself is deviant
- an action must excite some social reaction from others
- Depends who sees the act, commits the act and what action is taken

Question 7

What makes deviance vary and change ?

Answer 7

• society
• place
• time
• social groups/ subcultures

Question 8

Is crime socially constructed ?

Answer 8

• yes

Question 9

What is an example of a relative crime ?

Answer 9

Cannabis has been reclassified to a class C board

Question 10

What can deviancy be controlled by ?

Answer 10

Sanctions that promote conformity

Question 11

What is an example of a law being changed ?

Answer 11

• until 2004 gay mariage was illegal
• then the civil partnership 2004 act allowed more rights
• in the same sex couples act 2013 - mariage was legal between two people of the same gender
• any civil partnerships were allowed to become married