Defining crime and deviance

• What is the definition of crime?

  Behaviours which breaks law and is punished by the legal system
• What is the definition of deviance?

  Behaviour which goes against the norms and values and expectations of a social group or society
• Crime is mostly deviant, but not all deviance is criminal
• 4 ways crime and deviance are socially constructed?


  1. Culturally determined e.g. it is illegal to carry alcohol, but it is legal in other countries.
  2. historical- e.g. 100 yrs ago in uk it was deviant for women to wear trousers but acceptable today
  3. contextual e.g. wearing bikinki in class is unacceptable but okay at beach
  4. Age group e.g. restrictions for drinks/clubs
• situational deviance means acts which can be defined as deviant or normal, depending on circumstances?


  • Being naked- okay in your own home, deviant on the high street
  • wearing a chainmail and carrying a sword-okay for a fancy dress part,deviant at work
• societal deviance means acts which can be defined as deviant by most of society, in most situations?


  • swearing at an authority figure- even people who do it know it's deviant
• social order and social control creates a consensus of how to behave?

  1. By definition, most behaviour in society isn't criminal or deviant. social order and social control creates consensus for how to behave. ppl socialised to follow social norms
  2. some norms become 2nd nature e.g. not standing too close to someone when having a conversation
  3. other norms followed bc we are consciously aware that they're a norm e.g. stopping at a red light
  4. sanctions/rewards/punishments reinforce social norms
• sanctions/rewards/punishments reinforce social norms?:

  1.Formal sanctions: carried out by official agency

  positive sanctions (rewards ppl for conforming to norm)- medal for bravery in armed forces

  Negative sanctions (punish ppl for deviating from social norm)- a fine for speeding,yellow card from referee

  2.Informal sanctions: carried out by public

  positive sanctions- a pat on the back, a well done

  Negative sanctions-telling off, purposely ignoring someone