wjec a2 unit 4, crime and deviance week 1: social construction of crime and deviance? how to...

WJEC A2 Unit 4, Crime WJEC A2 Unit 4, Crime and Deviance Week 1: and Deviance Week 1: Social Construction of Social Construction of Crime and Deviance?Crime and Deviance?

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Either: Click the screen icon below far right for the ‘Slide Show’ option.

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Deviance Chapter 1: Social Construction of Crime and Deviance?

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Accessibility StatementAccessibility Statement

This slide show has been designed to be user friendly to people with dyslexia and visual impairment.

The accessible font Arial is used.

Black font on a white background is avoided.

Instead, font colour and background have been chosen to complement each other in order to avoid stark contrasts which dyslexic readers find hinders reading.

All text is left-justified to avoid ‘rivers of white’.

This slide show has been designed to be user friendly to people with dyslexia and visual impairment.

The accessible font Arial is used.

Black font on a white background is avoided.

Instead, font colour and background have been chosen to complement each other in order to avoid stark contrasts which dyslexic readers find hinders reading.

All text is left-justified to avoid ‘rivers of white’.


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Objectives of Chapter 1Objectives of Chapter 1

Following this Slide Show you should:

Be able to define deviance and crime. Be aware that both deviance and crime are social

constructions. Be aware that deviance and crime can vary between

cultures. Be aware that deviance and crime can vary across time. Be aware of Howard Becker's view that no action in itself is

deviant until defined as such. Be aware that deviant and criminal behaviour are

controlled by rules, social mores and sanctions.


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Questions to Think About in this Questions to Think About in this TopicTopic

How are crime and deviance defined? How are crime and deviance defined?

How are some groups more powerful and able to define behaviour of others as deviant or criminal?

How are some groups more powerful and able to define behaviour of others as deviant or criminal?

How some people are more likely to acquire a criminal identity?How some people are more likely to acquire a criminal identity?

Do criminal and deviant identities result from natural or social factors?Do criminal and deviant identities result from natural or social factors?

Do social processes, and institutions like the media, shape our picture of crime and criminals?Do social processes, and institutions like the media, shape our picture of crime and criminals?


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What is Deviance?What is Deviance?

Behaviour that differs from the normal.

Behaviour that differs from the normal.

Deviant behaviour is:

Behaviour that incurs

public disapproval.

Behaviour that incurs

public disapproval.

Behaviour subject to some form

of sanction.

Behaviour subject to some form

of sanction.


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Anthony GiddensAnthony Giddens

‘Non-conformity to a given norm, or set of norms, which are accepted by a significant number of people in a community or society’ (Anthony Giddens 1993).

‘Non-conformity to a given norm, or set of norms, which are accepted by a significant number of people in a community or society’ (Anthony Giddens 1993).


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Becker and Labelling TheoryBecker and Labelling Theory

No action in

itself is deviant.

No action in

itself is deviant.

It has to excite some social reaction from others.

It has to excite some social reaction from others.It depends upon who commits it, who sees it, and what action is taken about it.

It depends upon who commits it, who sees it, and what action is taken about it.

Howard Becker (above) highlights the social construction of deviance by stating:

Howard Becker (above) highlights the social construction of deviance by stating:


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Copyright © Harry Venning, Guardian Newspapers Ltd.


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Deviance is RelativeDeviance is Relative

Definitions of deviance will clearly vary between:Definitions of deviance will clearly vary between:

CulturesCultures TimePeriodsTime

Periods Sub-culturesSub-cultures


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Are These Acts of Deviance?Are These Acts of Deviance?

Note deviance does not need to be criminal, have any laws been broken in these pictures?Note deviance does not need to be criminal, have any laws been broken in these pictures?

Look at the pictures on the next few slides. Identify in what ways they may be viewed as deviant.Look at the pictures on the next few slides. Identify in what ways they may be viewed as deviant.


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Deviance Controlled by SanctionsDeviance Controlled by Sanctions

Deviant behaviour is effectively controlled by sanctions that promote conformity.

Deviant behaviour is effectively controlled by sanctions that promote conformity.

Sanctions may be:Sanctions may be:

FormalFormal InformalInformalor


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Legal Definitions of CrimeLegal Definitions of CrimeThe OED defines crime as: ‘an act

punishable by law, as being forbidden

by statute’.

The OED defines crime as: ‘an act

punishable by law, as being forbidden

by statute’.

Crime is therefore a specific act of deviance that

breaks society’s formal rules or laws.

Crime is therefore a specific act of deviance that

breaks society’s formal rules or laws.

The process of law-making is

a social one since laws are human

products.

The process of law-making is

a social one since laws are human

products.


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Normative Definitions of CrimeNormative Definitions of Crime

Mooney et al. (2000) suggest a

normative definition of crime.

Mooney et al. (2000) suggest a

normative definition of crime.

Besides the legal definition

Besides the legal definition

Hence society is largely unsympathetic to criminals who have been caught – e.g. “they get what they deserve”.

Hence society is largely unsympathetic to criminals who have been caught – e.g. “they get what they deserve”.


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Religious CrimesReligious Crimes

Before industrialisation the most serious

crimes were typically religious in nature:

Before industrialisation the most serious

crimes were typically religious in nature:

HeresyHeresy SacrilegeSacrilege BlasphemyBlasphemy


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‘‘Just’ and ‘Unjust’ LawsJust’ and ‘Unjust’ Laws

Some people regularly flout laws.

Some people regularly flout laws.

Dog licences

were withdrawn because so few bought

them.

Dog licences

were withdrawn because so few bought

them.

For example, many people ignore 30 mph laws in towns or 70 mph on motorways

For example, many people ignore 30 mph laws in towns or 70 mph on motorways


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Middle-class Criminals?Middle-class Criminals?

Respectable people may:Respectable people may:

Steal stationery

Steal stationery

Put private letters through office

mail

Put private letters through office

mail

Make privatephone calls

at work

Make privatephone calls

at workFiddle expenses

Fiddle expenses


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White Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeMarxists argue there is an enormous amount of white-collar and corporate crime.

Marxists argue there is an enormous amount of white-collar and corporate crime.


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Crime is not Fixed or PermanentCrime is not Fixed or PermanentHomosexuality and abortion are no longer crimes in most societies.Homosexuality and abortion are no longer crimes in most societies.

Cannabis was recently

declassified to a Class C

drug.

Cannabis was recently

declassified to a Class C

drug.

During the period of ‘prohibition’ in the USA the possession and consumption of alcohol was illegal.

During the period of ‘prohibition’ in the USA the possession and consumption of alcohol was illegal.


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Conclusions on Chapter 2Conclusions on Chapter 2

Deviance is behaviour by individuals or social groups that fails to conform to culturally expected norms of behaviour.

It is a relative concept – no act in itself is deviant per se.

Labelling theory makes the important point that it is the social reaction or label that defines an act as ‘deviant’.

Sanctions can be positive or negative, formal or informal.

Deviance is distinct from crime, although crimes tend to be deviant behaviour, not all deviance is criminal.


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Conclusions (continued)Conclusions (continued)

Deviance is controlled by sanctions.

Crime is a formal act of deviance that violates statute law.

Besides this legal definition, it carries normative judgements – criminals are not viewed sympathetically.

In pre-industrial society most crimes were religious in nature, or acts of theft against the aristocracy.

According to people’s value judgements crimes can be ‘just’ or ‘unjust’.

wjec a2 unit 4, crime and deviance week 1: social construction of crime and deviance? how to...

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