Norms, Values, and Formal Sanctions

This section delves into social expectations and formal punishment mechanisms, providing key insights into types of behavior in criminology and deviance.

Definition: Norms are social expectations guiding behavior, while values are standards society upholds.

Example: Informal deviance examples include wearing white at a funeral or black at a wedding.

Court sanctions are detailed as follows:

• Custodial Sentences (immediate imprisonment)
• Community Sentences (including curfews and drug testing)
• Fines (financial penalties)
• Discharge (conditional period of good behavior)

Highlight: Non-court sanctions include cautions and penalty notices, offering alternatives to formal prosecution.

Informal Sanctions and Assessment Guidelines

The final section covers social control mechanisms and provides guidance for comparing criminality and deviance.

Example: Deviant acts examples that are not crimes include receiving disapproving looks, experiencing sarcasm, or social exclusion.

Highlight: Positive sanctions, such as reward systems in schools, can encourage conformity to social norms.

For assessment purposes, students should:

• Define both crime and deviance
• Provide relevant examples
• Compare and contrast using appropriate transitional phrases
• Demonstrate understanding of similarities between crime and deviance

Understanding Crime and Deviance: Legal and Social Perspectives

This page introduces core concepts in criminology unit 2 1.1 crime and deviance, establishing fundamental definitions and frameworks. The content explores both legal and social definitions of criminal behavior.

Definition: Crime is defined through two essential components: Actus Reus (guilty act) and Mens Rea (guilty mind).

Vocabulary: Deviance refers to behavior that doesn't conform to society's norms and values.

Example: Types of deviance include:

• Admired deviant behavior (helping others while endangering oneself)
• Odd behavior (wearing sunglasses in winter)
• Criminal behavior (assault, burglary)

Highlight: Social norms and rules are socially constructed, meaning they can vary across different societies and locations.