Social Construction of crime

The Social Construction of Crime and Deviance.

It is important to recognise that there is nothing about any given act (anything from sneezing to murder) that makes it criminal or deviant! What is regarded as deviant behaviour wholly depends on the perspective of a relevant group of authority. The view of a particular group at a particular time and place is what makes an act deviant. This is what is known as a relative concept.

For example, nudity is generally viewed in Britain as a deviant act. However,…