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Crime and Deviance: Easy Study Notes PDF for Kids

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Crime and Deviance: Easy Study Notes PDF for Kids

Crime and deviance in sociology: Understanding legal and social definitions

This guide explores the complex relationship between crime and deviance, examining their legal and social definitions, and the formal and informal sanctions associated with each. It provides essential insights for students studying crime and deviance sociology.

Key points:

  • Criminal behavior is defined both socially and legally
  • Deviance refers to acts that violate social norms but may not be illegal
  • Formal and informal sanctions exist for both criminal and deviant behaviors
  • Cultural context significantly influences perceptions of crime and deviance

9/19/2022

797

Cultural Context and Variations in Crime and Deviance

This page delves deeper into the cultural variations in defining crime and deviance, emphasizing the challenges in creating universal definitions.

Cultural Variations in Crime

The definition of crime varies significantly across different cultures and legal systems.

Example: Cannabis use is illegal in the UK but legal or decriminalized in other countries, illustrating how the concept of crime can differ globally.

Cultural Perspectives on Deviance

What is considered deviant behavior can vary greatly depending on cultural norms and values.

Highlight: Acts that are seen as deviant in one culture may be perfectly acceptable or even encouraged in another.

Formal and Informal Sanctions Against Deviance

Society employs both formal and informal methods to discourage deviant behavior.

Definition:

  • Formal sanctions against deviance may include warnings or dismissals from work, or exclusion from school.
  • Informal sanctions can range from verbal reprimands to social ostracism.

Example: Informal sanctions might include staring, mocking, or ignoring someone who has violated social norms.

The Intersection of Crime and Deviance

Some acts are considered both criminal and deviant across most cultures.

Example: Domestic abuse, murder, and hate crimes are generally viewed as both criminal and deviant in most societies.

This page reinforces the importance of understanding cultural context when studying crime and deviance in sociology. It highlights the fluid nature of these concepts and how they can vary across different societies and legal systems.

AC 1.1: Compare criminal behaviour and deviance
Criminal behaviour: Social definition
Differing views- What the public views to be a 'real'

Challenges in Defining Crime and Deviance

This final page emphasizes the difficulties in creating universal definitions for crime and deviance due to cultural, age-related, and geographical variations.

Contextual Nature of Crime and Deviance

The perception of what constitutes a crime or deviant behavior can change based on various factors.

Highlight: Age, culture, and location all play significant roles in determining whether an act is considered criminal or deviant.

Examples of Acts Considered Both Criminal and Deviant

Some behaviors are widely recognized as both criminal and socially unacceptable across many cultures.

Example: Murder, theft, and assault are generally viewed as both criminal and deviant in most societies.

Variations in Perceptions

Even for acts that are widely considered criminal, there can be cultural variations in how they are perceived and dealt with.

Example: The use and possession of cannabis may be viewed differently across various cultures and legal systems.

This page concludes the guide by reinforcing the complex and often subjective nature of defining crime and deviance. It emphasizes the importance of considering multiple perspectives when studying these concepts in sociology and criminology.

AC 1.1: Compare criminal behaviour and deviance
Criminal behaviour: Social definition
Differing views- What the public views to be a 'real'

View

Criminal Behaviour and Deviance: Social and Legal Perspectives

This page explores the social and legal definitions of criminal behavior, highlighting the complexities in defining crime. It also introduces the concept of deviance and its relationship to social norms.

Social Definition of Criminal Behaviour

The social definition of crime is influenced by public perception, law enforcement priorities, and the law-making process.

Example: Speeding is legally a crime, but minor infractions are often not viewed as criminal by the public.

Highlight: Law enforcement may prioritize certain crimes over others, such as focusing less on white-collar crimes due to their complexity.

Legal Definition of Criminal Behaviour

The legal definition of crime is based on actions that violate criminal law and can result in punishment.

Vocabulary:

  • Actus reus: The guilty act itself
  • Mens rea: The guilty mind or intention behind the act
  • Strict liability: Cases where the act alone is sufficient for conviction

Example: Common criminal acts include murder, drug offenses, assault, theft, and rape.

Formal Sanctions Against Criminals

The legal system imposes formal sanctions on criminals through courts and police actions.

Definition: Formal sanctions include community sentences (probation, fines, community service) and custodial sentences (prison, young offenders institutions).

Deviance: Beyond Legal Boundaries

Deviance refers to acts that violate social norms but may not necessarily be illegal.

Vocabulary:

  • Norms: Specific rules or social standards that guide behavior
  • Values: General principles on how to live our lives
  • Moral codes: Set of rules and principles held by society

Example: Swearing, not following dress codes, or eating with hands in certain cultures can be considered deviant behaviors.

AC 1.1: Compare criminal behaviour and deviance
Criminal behaviour: Social definition
Differing views- What the public views to be a 'real'

View

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SuSSan, iOS User

Love this App ❤️, I use it basically all the time whenever I'm studying

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

Knowunity was a featured story by Apple and has consistently topped the app store charts within the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Ranked #1 Education App

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

4.9+

Average App Rating

13 M

Students use Knowunity

#1

In Education App Charts in 11 Countries

950 K+

Students uploaded study notes

Still not sure? Look at what your fellow peers are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much [...] I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a C to an A with it :D

Stefan S, iOS User

The application is very simple and well designed. So far I have found what I was looking for :D

SuSSan, iOS User

Love this App ❤️, I use it basically all the time whenever I'm studying

Crime and Deviance: Easy Study Notes PDF for Kids

Crime and deviance in sociology: Understanding legal and social definitions

This guide explores the complex relationship between crime and deviance, examining their legal and social definitions, and the formal and informal sanctions associated with each. It provides essential insights for students studying crime and deviance sociology.

Key points:

  • Criminal behavior is defined both socially and legally
  • Deviance refers to acts that violate social norms but may not be illegal
  • Formal and informal sanctions exist for both criminal and deviant behaviors
  • Cultural context significantly influences perceptions of crime and deviance

9/19/2022

797

Cultural Context and Variations in Crime and Deviance

This page delves deeper into the cultural variations in defining crime and deviance, emphasizing the challenges in creating universal definitions.

Cultural Variations in Crime

The definition of crime varies significantly across different cultures and legal systems.

Example: Cannabis use is illegal in the UK but legal or decriminalized in other countries, illustrating how the concept of crime can differ globally.

Cultural Perspectives on Deviance

What is considered deviant behavior can vary greatly depending on cultural norms and values.

Highlight: Acts that are seen as deviant in one culture may be perfectly acceptable or even encouraged in another.

Formal and Informal Sanctions Against Deviance

Society employs both formal and informal methods to discourage deviant behavior.

Definition:

  • Formal sanctions against deviance may include warnings or dismissals from work, or exclusion from school.
  • Informal sanctions can range from verbal reprimands to social ostracism.

Example: Informal sanctions might include staring, mocking, or ignoring someone who has violated social norms.

The Intersection of Crime and Deviance

Some acts are considered both criminal and deviant across most cultures.

Example: Domestic abuse, murder, and hate crimes are generally viewed as both criminal and deviant in most societies.

This page reinforces the importance of understanding cultural context when studying crime and deviance in sociology. It highlights the fluid nature of these concepts and how they can vary across different societies and legal systems.

AC 1.1: Compare criminal behaviour and deviance
Criminal behaviour: Social definition
Differing views- What the public views to be a 'real'

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Challenges in Defining Crime and Deviance

This final page emphasizes the difficulties in creating universal definitions for crime and deviance due to cultural, age-related, and geographical variations.

Contextual Nature of Crime and Deviance

The perception of what constitutes a crime or deviant behavior can change based on various factors.

Highlight: Age, culture, and location all play significant roles in determining whether an act is considered criminal or deviant.

Examples of Acts Considered Both Criminal and Deviant

Some behaviors are widely recognized as both criminal and socially unacceptable across many cultures.

Example: Murder, theft, and assault are generally viewed as both criminal and deviant in most societies.

Variations in Perceptions

Even for acts that are widely considered criminal, there can be cultural variations in how they are perceived and dealt with.

Example: The use and possession of cannabis may be viewed differently across various cultures and legal systems.

This page concludes the guide by reinforcing the complex and often subjective nature of defining crime and deviance. It emphasizes the importance of considering multiple perspectives when studying these concepts in sociology and criminology.

AC 1.1: Compare criminal behaviour and deviance
Criminal behaviour: Social definition
Differing views- What the public views to be a 'real'

Sign up

Sign up to get unlimited access to thousands of study materials. It's free!

Access to all documents

Join milions of students

Improve your grades

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Criminal Behaviour and Deviance: Social and Legal Perspectives

This page explores the social and legal definitions of criminal behavior, highlighting the complexities in defining crime. It also introduces the concept of deviance and its relationship to social norms.

Social Definition of Criminal Behaviour

The social definition of crime is influenced by public perception, law enforcement priorities, and the law-making process.

Example: Speeding is legally a crime, but minor infractions are often not viewed as criminal by the public.

Highlight: Law enforcement may prioritize certain crimes over others, such as focusing less on white-collar crimes due to their complexity.

Legal Definition of Criminal Behaviour

The legal definition of crime is based on actions that violate criminal law and can result in punishment.

Vocabulary:

  • Actus reus: The guilty act itself
  • Mens rea: The guilty mind or intention behind the act
  • Strict liability: Cases where the act alone is sufficient for conviction

Example: Common criminal acts include murder, drug offenses, assault, theft, and rape.

Formal Sanctions Against Criminals

The legal system imposes formal sanctions on criminals through courts and police actions.

Definition: Formal sanctions include community sentences (probation, fines, community service) and custodial sentences (prison, young offenders institutions).

Deviance: Beyond Legal Boundaries

Deviance refers to acts that violate social norms but may not necessarily be illegal.

Vocabulary:

  • Norms: Specific rules or social standards that guide behavior
  • Values: General principles on how to live our lives
  • Moral codes: Set of rules and principles held by society

Example: Swearing, not following dress codes, or eating with hands in certain cultures can be considered deviant behaviors.

AC 1.1: Compare criminal behaviour and deviance
Criminal behaviour: Social definition
Differing views- What the public views to be a 'real'

Sign up

Sign up to get unlimited access to thousands of study materials. It's free!

Access to all documents

Join milions of students

Improve your grades

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

Knowunity was a featured story by Apple and has consistently topped the app store charts within the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Ranked #1 Education App

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

4.9+

Average App Rating

13 M

Students use Knowunity

#1

In Education App Charts in 11 Countries

950 K+

Students uploaded study notes

Still not sure? Look at what your fellow peers are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much [...] I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a C to an A with it :D

Stefan S, iOS User

The application is very simple and well designed. So far I have found what I was looking for :D

SuSSan, iOS User

Love this App ❤️, I use it basically all the time whenever I'm studying