C+I - deviance, sanctions+ social control

• Crime consists of activities that break the law and are potentially subject to formal negative sanctions
• Not all criminals are caught and not all laws are strictly enforced
• There is room for interpretation whether a law has been broken or not
• Deviance is behavior that breaks the norms and expectations of a particular social group
• Deviance can sometimes be seen in a positive light, but in practice, it is mostly viewed negatively
• Social control in societies attempts to prevent and reduce criminal and undesirable deviant behavior
• Mechanisms of social control can be formal (criminal justice system, police, courts, prisons) or informal (carried out by members of society in everyday life)
• Social control is also achieved through socialization, where individuals learn the rules of their society and how to behave accordingly
• Sanctions, whether positive or negative (punishment or reward), are crucial in maintaining social control
• Deviance is often negatively sanctioned, for example, murderers deviate from the value society places on human life and are reacted to with widespread disapproval and punishment
• Minor acts of deviance, like rudeness, result in informal negative sanctions such as criticism or social exclusion
• Positive sanctions are used to encourage behavior deemed desirable, like rewarding hard work with bonuses, praise, or promotion
• Delinquency consists of antisocial or criminal acts committed by young people