Introduction to Crime and Deviance

• Crime - behaviour that goes against the written/formal laws set down by the government of a country. It is punishable by the law e.g. murder, theft.
• Deviance - behaviour that goes against the expected/dominant norms and values in a society e.g. wearing headphones/listening to music when talking to someone, wearing a hoodie (with hood up) while with someone.
• Social construction - definitions of crime and deviance can change depending on different factors (time, place, social situation and culture). The patterns of behaviour are based on norms and expectations of that society.
• There is no universal agreement as to what is criminal deviant.
• Types of deviance:

  • Smoking cannabis
  • Swearing
  • Excessively breaking the speed limit
  • Consuming alcohol in public
  • Killing someone
  • Abortion
• Smoking cannabis is seen as acceptable when it has been prescribed by a doctor. It is not seen acceptable when it is being used recreationally.
• Swearing is seen as acceptable when done alone, with close family or friends in some situations. It is not seen as acceptable in front of young children or in a work environment, or someone in a respectable position.
• Excessively breaking the speed limit is seen as acceptable when an emergency vehicle is needed. It is not seen as acceptable when it is risking people's lives or it is being done often.
• Consuming alcohol in public is seen as acceptable, when in a pub or doing it in a controlled manner. It is not seen as accessible if you are becoming aggressive or a harm to others, or in a school/work environment.
• Killing someone is seen as acceptable only in war. It is not seen as acceptable when it is done for fun or no reason at all. The majority of the time it is not acceptable.
• Abortion is seen as acceptable when it is before a certain stage in the pregnancy. It isn't seen as acceptable when it is after a certain stage in pregnancy, in some religions, and in some countries.
• Crime and deviance is defined by:

  • time
  • place
  • culture
  • social situation
• Whether something is seen as criminal or deviant depends on:

  • what the act is
  • who is defining the act (who is watching it)
  • where the act takes place
  • when the act takes place
  • why the act has occured
• Becker: An act only become deviant when others perceive and define it as such.