6.1 The Social Construction of Crime and Deviance

• What does social labeling theory suggest about negative labels?

  They become self-fulfilling prophecies
• Laws and regulations reflect societal norms, leading to consistent legal definitions of crime across all regions.

  False
• Laws and regulations reflect societal norms, leading to varying legal definitions of crime
• How does recognizing the social construction of crime promote social justice?

  Challenges unfair laws and policies
• The social definition of crime and deviance is fixed and universal.

  False
• What is the concept of social construction of crime and deviance based on?

  Society defines crime
• What does conflict theory suggest about the enforcement of laws?

  Maintains dominant group position
• The social construction of crime and deviance varies across cultures and time periods.


  True
• Deviance refers to behavior that deviates from social norms and expectations, but may not necessarily be illegal
• What was the legal status of alcohol during the Prohibition era in the United States?

  Criminalized
• What factors shape laws, norms, and expectations regarding crime and deviance in a society?

  Culture, history, politics, power dynamics
• The social construction of crime and deviance suggests that what is considered criminal or deviant is inherently wrong.

  False
• What is the key idea of symbolic interactionism in the context of crime and deviance?

  Crime emerges from shared meaning-making
• Labeling theory argues that negative labels can shape an individual's self-identity
• Conflict theory suggests that definitions of crime and deviance reflect the interests of all groups in society.

  False
• Theoretical perspectives like labeling theory highlight how negative labels can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies
• What are the two main components of culture that influence perceptions of crime and deviance?

  Norms and values
• Behaviors deemed criminal in one culture may be legal in another due to differing cultural values.


  True
• Which theoretical perspective argues that definitions of crime reflect the interests of dominant groups?

  Conflict theory
• What does symbolic interactionism focus on regarding crime and deviance?

  Shared meaning-making
• Conflict theory argues that definitions of crime and deviance are objective and neutral.

  False
• What influences the social construction of crime and deviance?

  Cultural, historical, political, power dynamics
• Norms govern everyday behavior and expectations
• Match the influence with its example:

  Norms ↔️ Dress codes

  Values ↔️ Honesty

  Perception of Crime ↔️ Theft, assault

  Perception of Deviance ↔️ Public drunkenness
• What are two primary roles of the media and law enforcement in shaping perceptions of crime?

  Amplify crimes and influence opinion
• Match the role with its influence:

  Media ↔️ Creates moral panics

  Law Enforcement ↔️ Shapes perceptions through arrests
• Deviance refers to behavior that deviates from social norms and expectations, but may not necessarily be illegal
• What is the definition of crime according to the study material?

  Violation of the law
• Formal consequences for crime include fines or imprisonment
• Order the following concepts based on their relevance to the social construction of crime and deviance.

  1️⃣ Social norms

  2️⃣ Cultural values

  3️⃣ Power dynamics

  4️⃣ Historical factors

  5️⃣ Political influences
• The social construction of crime and deviance is influenced by cultural, historical, political, and power dynamics.


  True
• Labeling theory argues that negative labels can become a self-fulfilling prophecy
• The social definition of crime and deviance can change over time and across cultures
• Match the term with its definition:

  Crime ↔️ Violation of legal codes

  Deviance ↔️ Deviation from social norms
• Crime is punishable by the state
• What type of social sanction is associated with crime?

  Formal punishment
• Labeling theory suggests that negative labels can become a self-fulfilling prophecy
• Match the aspect of crime/deviance with its description:

  Definition of Crime ↔️ Violation of legal codes

  Consequences of Deviance ↔️ Informal sanctions like stigma

  Examples of Crime ↔️ Theft, assault

  Examples of Deviance ↔️ Body piercings, unconventional clothing
• Cultural norms and values shape what is considered acceptable or unacceptable behavior within a culture.


  True
• What is an example of a cultural norm?

  Politeness rules