AC 1.1 Flashcards
(38 cards)
What are values?
General principles or guidelines for how we should live our lives
Values help differentiate right from wrong, good from bad.
What are norms?
Specific rules or socially accepted standards that govern people’s behaviors in particular situations
Norms dictate how individuals are expected to act in different contexts.
What is meant by moral codes?
A set of basic rules, values, and principles held by an individual, organization, or society as a whole
An example is the police code of ethics.
How is deviance defined?
Any behavior that differs from social norms
Deviance is typically considered unusual or outside the ordinary.
What are the three different types of deviance?
- Behavior that is unusual and good
- Behavior that is unusual and eccentric or bizarre
- Behavior that is unusual and bad
The last form is the most relevant in discussions of deviance.
How can the severity of deviance vary?
depending on society’s rules that are broken
Examples of serious deviance include rape, murder, and arson.
What are formal sanctions and what do they involve?
Formal sanctions are used by official bodies such as police, courts, schools, and other institutions.
They involve punishments for breaking formally written rules or laws.
Examples of formal sanctions?
Fines, imprisonment, community service and being excluded from school.
What are informal sanctions?
Informal sanctions are used when rules are not normally written and are ‘unspoken.’
How are informal sanctions expressed?
They are expressed through disapproval in informal ways, such as refusing to speak to someone or social ostracism.
Give examples of informal sanctions.
Examples include:
* Refusing to speak to someone
* Telling them off
* A slap on the wrist
What are positive sanctions?
Positive sanctions are rewards for socially acceptable behavior.
Provide examples of positive sanctions.
Examples include:
* Medals for bravery
* Praise from parents and teachers
What is social control?
Social control refers to ways in which society seeks to control behavior and ensure adherence to norms.
What is criminal behaviour?
A form of deviance involving actions that are harmful and wrong in society.
What is the legal definition of criminal behaviour?
Any action forbidden by laws.
What are the two elements required for criminal behaviour?
- Actus reus (guilty act)
- Mens rea (guilty mind)
In some cases, what is not required for conviction?
Mens rea, as the act alone can be enough.
When is an act not considered a crime in the context of self-defense?
When it is done using justifiable force.
What factors can influence the social definition of criminal behaviour?
*different views
* Law enforcement
* Law making
Why might certain laws not be enforced by the police?
They aren’t a priority for the police.
What is often seen as a waste of time in law enforcement?
Possession of soft drugs.
What are criminal acts defined as?
Acts that break the law.
How can criminal acts be classified?
By seriousness and substance matter.
