Social Construction of Crime and Deviance? .

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Objectives of Chapter 1 Following this Slide Show you should: Be able to define deviance and crime. Be aware that both deviance and crime are social constructions. Be aware that deviance and crime can vary between cultures. Be aware that deviance and crime can vary across time. Be aware of Howard Becker's view that no action in itself is deviant until defined as such. Be aware that deviant and criminal behaviour are controlled by rules, social mores and sanctions.

Questions to Think About in this Topic How are crime and deviance defined? How some people are more likely to acquire a criminal identity? How are some groups more powerful and able to define behaviour of others as deviant or criminal? Do criminal and deviant identities result from natural or social factors? Do social processes, and institutions like the media, shape our picture of crime and criminals?

What is Deviance? Deviant behaviour is: Behaviour Behaviour Behaviour that incurs public disapproval. Behaviour subject to some form of sanction. Behaviour that differs from the normal.

Deviance Chapter 1: Social Construction of Crime and Deviance? Anthony Giddens ‘Non-conformity to a given norm, or set of norms, which are accepted by a significant number of people in a community or society’ (Anthony Giddens 1993). Deviance Chapter 1: Social Construction of Crime and Deviance?

Becker and Labelling Theory No action in itself is deviant. It has to excite some social reaction from others. Howard Becker (above) highlights the social construction of deviance by stating: It depends upon who commits it, who sees it, and what action is taken about it.

Copyright © Harry Venning, Guardian Newspapers Ltd.

Deviance is Relative Definitions of deviance will clearly vary between: Cultures Time Periods Sub-cultures

Are These Acts of Deviance? Look at the pictures on the next few slides. Identify in what ways they may be viewed as deviant. Note deviance does not need to be criminal, have any laws been broken in these pictures?

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Deviance Controlled by Sanctions Deviant behaviour is effectively controlled by sanctions that promote conformity. Sanctions may be: Informal Formal or

Legal Definitions of Crime The OED defines crime as: ‘an act punishable by law, as being forbidden by statute’. Crime is therefore a specific act of deviance that breaks society’s formal rules or laws. The process of law-making is a social one since laws are human products.

Normative Definitions of Crime Besides the legal definition Mooney et al. (2000) suggest a normative definition of crime. Hence society is largely unsympathetic to criminals who have been caught – e.g. “they get what they deserve”.

Before industrialisation Religious Crimes Before industrialisation the most serious crimes were typically religious in nature: Heresy Sacrilege Blasphemy

‘Just’ and ‘Unjust’ Laws Some people regularly flout laws. Dog licences were withdrawn because so few bought them. For example, many people ignore 30 mph laws in towns or 70 mph on motorways

Middle-class Criminals? Steal stationery Middle-class Criminals? Respectable people may: Put private letters through office mail Make private phone calls at work Fiddle expenses

White Collar Crime Marxists argue there is an enormous amount of white-collar and corporate crime.

Crime is not Fixed or Permanent Homosexuality and abortion are no longer crimes in most societies. During the period of ‘prohibition’ in the USA the possession and consumption of alcohol was illegal. Cannabis was recently declassified to a Class C drug.

Conclusions Deviance is behaviour by individuals or social groups that fails to conform to culturally expected norms of behaviour. It is a relative concept – no act in itself is deviant per se. Labelling theory makes the important point that it is the social reaction or label that defines an act as ‘deviant’. Sanctions can be positive or negative, formal or informal. Deviance is distinct from crime, although crimes tend to be deviant behaviour, not all deviance is criminal.

Conclusions (continued) Deviance is controlled by sanctions. Crime is a formal act of deviance that violates statute law. Besides this legal definition, it carries normative judgements – criminals are not viewed sympathetically. In pre-industrial society most crimes were religious in nature, or acts of theft against the aristocracy. According to people’s value judgements crimes can be ‘just’ or ‘unjust’.