Defining Crime SCYL4

Defining Crime and Deviance

Crime = behaviour which breaks societys laws, which is then punished by the legal system/the state e.g. the police or court

Deviance = behaviour that deviates from the norms of society e.g. tattoos

Both criminal and deviant behaviour is relative i.e. it varies between time periods and cultures. For example, homosexuality was a criminal offence in Britain over 100 years ago, and some cultures believe polygamy is not deviant behaviour.

All social rules &…