SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION WHITE COLLAR CRIME
What is socially constructed Definition + examples?
- Crime committed by professionals in jobs
crime?
Characteristics:
- Crime changes depending on time and society
- Non-violent
- Financial gain
Key idea:
- Hidden crimes
- What is illegal in one place/time may be legal in another
Examples:
Examples:
- Fraud
- Homosexuality (illegal in past, legal now)
- Tax evasion
- Different laws in different countries
- Theft
Evaluation:
Evaluation:
+ Shows laws are not fixed
+ High financial impact
- Can create confusion about what is crime
- Hard to detect and prove
DEVIANCE
What is deviance + types? CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR
Deviance is behaviour that goes against social norms and What is criminal behaviour?
expectations.
There are three main types of deviance. Positive deviance is behaviour Criminal behaviour is any action that breaks the law
that breaks norms in a good way and benefits society, such as and is punishable by the legal system.
whistleblowing or protesting for rights. Negative deviance is
behaviour that breaks norms in a harmful way, such as drug abuse or Examples of criminal behaviour include theft, assault,
aggressive behaviour. Unusual deviance is behaviour that is seen as and murder.
strange but not harmful, such as wearing unusual clothing or talking
to yourself in public. All criminal behaviour is illegal, but not all criminal
behaviour is considered deviant in every society.
Deviance is not always illegal and depends on what society considers
acceptable.
, COMPARE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION
Criminal behaviour and Explain the social construction
deviance of criminality
The social construction of criminality means that crime is created by
Criminal behaviour and deviance are similar because both involve
society and is not fixed.
breaking rules and can be seen as unacceptable by society.
Laws are made by people and can change over time depending on
However, criminal behaviour breaks formal laws, while deviance
society’s values and beliefs.
breaks social norms and expectations.
This means that behaviour considered criminal in one time or place
Deviance is a broader concept than crime because not all deviant
may not be criminal in another.
behaviour is illegal.
For example, homosexuality was illegal in the past but is now legal in
For example, wearing unusual clothing is deviant but not criminal,
many countries.
whereas theft is both criminal and deviant.
This shows that crime depends on social context and is not universal.
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION MORAL CODES
Why is this idea What are moral codes?
important?
The idea of social construction is important because it shows that Moral codes are rules about what is considered right and
laws are not permanent and can change over time. wrong in society.
It also explains why different cultures have different laws. They are based on values, beliefs, and culture, and they
guide behaviour.
However, laws can be influenced by powerful groups, which may Moral codes can change over time and may differ between
lead to unfair rules. societies.
This means that crime can sometimes reflect power rather than They are not always written into law but influence how
fairness. people judge behaviour.
What is socially constructed Definition + examples?
- Crime committed by professionals in jobs
crime?
Characteristics:
- Crime changes depending on time and society
- Non-violent
- Financial gain
Key idea:
- Hidden crimes
- What is illegal in one place/time may be legal in another
Examples:
Examples:
- Fraud
- Homosexuality (illegal in past, legal now)
- Tax evasion
- Different laws in different countries
- Theft
Evaluation:
Evaluation:
+ Shows laws are not fixed
+ High financial impact
- Can create confusion about what is crime
- Hard to detect and prove
DEVIANCE
What is deviance + types? CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR
Deviance is behaviour that goes against social norms and What is criminal behaviour?
expectations.
There are three main types of deviance. Positive deviance is behaviour Criminal behaviour is any action that breaks the law
that breaks norms in a good way and benefits society, such as and is punishable by the legal system.
whistleblowing or protesting for rights. Negative deviance is
behaviour that breaks norms in a harmful way, such as drug abuse or Examples of criminal behaviour include theft, assault,
aggressive behaviour. Unusual deviance is behaviour that is seen as and murder.
strange but not harmful, such as wearing unusual clothing or talking
to yourself in public. All criminal behaviour is illegal, but not all criminal
behaviour is considered deviant in every society.
Deviance is not always illegal and depends on what society considers
acceptable.
, COMPARE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION
Criminal behaviour and Explain the social construction
deviance of criminality
The social construction of criminality means that crime is created by
Criminal behaviour and deviance are similar because both involve
society and is not fixed.
breaking rules and can be seen as unacceptable by society.
Laws are made by people and can change over time depending on
However, criminal behaviour breaks formal laws, while deviance
society’s values and beliefs.
breaks social norms and expectations.
This means that behaviour considered criminal in one time or place
Deviance is a broader concept than crime because not all deviant
may not be criminal in another.
behaviour is illegal.
For example, homosexuality was illegal in the past but is now legal in
For example, wearing unusual clothing is deviant but not criminal,
many countries.
whereas theft is both criminal and deviant.
This shows that crime depends on social context and is not universal.
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION MORAL CODES
Why is this idea What are moral codes?
important?
The idea of social construction is important because it shows that Moral codes are rules about what is considered right and
laws are not permanent and can change over time. wrong in society.
It also explains why different cultures have different laws. They are based on values, beliefs, and culture, and they
guide behaviour.
However, laws can be influenced by powerful groups, which may Moral codes can change over time and may differ between
lead to unfair rules. societies.
This means that crime can sometimes reflect power rather than They are not always written into law but influence how
fairness. people judge behaviour.
