Social Construction Of Crime Flashcards
What is the social definition of criminal behaviour?
A label from social interaction or a wrong doing against the community.
What is the legal definition of crime?
Behaviour that violates the law and is punishable and must have two elements; actus reas, which is the guilt act, and a means rea, which is the guilty mind.
What are the categories of criminal acts?
Fatal offences- Murder, Manslaughter
Non fatal offences- Assault,GBH
Offences against property- Theft, Robbery
Sexual offences- Rape, Sexual assault
Public order offences- Sleeping rough, Hooliganism
Drug offences- Consumption of drugs, Supplying drugs
What determines whether an act is criminal and/or deviant?
Time: When the act takes place
Culture: Different cultures have different behavioural expectations
Circumstance: Depends on the circumstance of the act
Place: Where the act takes place
An example of when time and place determines whether an act is criminal/deviant
Time: Drinking at 9am is seen as deviant but drinking alcohol at 9pm is not
Place: Running across a nudist beach naked is not illegal whereas running naked across a football pitch is
An example of when culture and circumstance determine if an act is criminal/deviant
Culture: Smoking week in England is illegal but in Arab countries it is legal
Drinking alcohol is legal in England but illegal in Arab countries
Circumstance: Sex isn’t illegal however when there is no consent it becomes illegal
What is self fulfilling prophecy?
When a person/ group is constantly labelled by society they live up to their label.
Who came up with the term ‘moral panic’
Stanley Cohen
What is deviancy amplification?
When the media exaggerate a crime fear is instilled to the public.
This then leads to a police crackdown as certain groups are targeted.
Harsher punishments are put in place
Law change
Who are ‘folk devils’?
The groups targeted by moral panic.
For example: Young working class boys are targeted
What is ‘moral panic’?
When a crime is committed the media make the crime look worse than it is and cause uproar.
Exaggerate which causes fear
