an act that breaks the law. The state can punish it.

Which is deviant but not criminal?

talking loudly during a film at the cinema. It breaks a norm, not a law.

What does "socially constructed" mean here?

crime and deviance are defined by society, and the definitions can change. Society decides what counts.

An act is legal in one country and a crime in another. What does this show?

crime varies between societies. It is an example of relativity.

A surgeon cuts a patient with a knife. A robber cuts a victim with a knife. Why is only one a crime?

the situation and the meaning of the act are different. The same physical act is judged by its context.

Crime and deviance · Cambridge IGCSE Sociology 0495 revision

In plain words

Wearing a swimsuit is fine on a beach and shocking at a funeral. Killing is murder in the street and duty on a battlefield. The first lesson of this topic is that no act is wrong in itself. It depends on where, when and who is judging.

8 things to know

A crime is an act that breaks the law of a society and can be punished by the state.
Deviance is behaviour that breaks the norms of a society or group, and which most people disapprove of.
Some acts are deviant but not criminal, such as pushing into a queue. Some are criminal but not seen as very deviant by many people, such as driving a little over the speed limit. Some are both, such as theft.
Crime and deviance are relative. What counts as either one varies between societies: an act that is legal in one country can be a crime in another.
They vary between cultures, because each has its own norms about dress, food and behaviour.
They vary with the situation. The same act can be acceptable in one setting and deviant in another.
They vary across time. Laws and norms change. Things that were once legal are now crimes, and things that were once crimes are now legal.
So sociologists describe crime and deviance as socially constructed: they are defined by society, not fixed by nature.

Worked example

Classify each act: talking loudly in a library; stealing a phone; parking for ten minutes where it is not allowed.

Talking loudly in a library breaks a norm but no law. It is deviant, not criminal.
Stealing a phone breaks the law and the norms. It is criminal and deviant.
Parking where it is not allowed breaks a rule of law, yet most people do not strongly disapprove. It is an offence without being seen as very deviant.

Tips and tricks

Crime is about law. Deviance is about norms. Start any definition question with that difference.
For relativity, have four examples ready, one each for place, culture, situation and time.

5 questions, about 2 minutes.

It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.

Crime and deviance: 5 questions and answers

These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.

What is a crime?
- any behaviour that people dislike
- an act that breaks the law (the answer)
- an act that breaks a norm
- an unusual hobby
The state can punish it.
Which is deviant but not criminal?
- burglary
- fraud
- talking loudly during a film at the cinema (the answer)
- assault
It breaks a norm, not a law.
What does "socially constructed" mean here?
- crime and deviance are defined by society, and the definitions can change (the answer)
- crime is caused by buildings
- deviance is inherited
- laws never change
Society decides what counts.
An act is legal in one country and a crime in another. What does this show?
- one country is wrong
- crime is biological
- the act is not deviant
- crime varies between societies (the answer)
It is an example of relativity.
A surgeon cuts a patient with a knife. A robber cuts a victim with a knife. Why is only one a crime?Stretch
- the knives are different
- the surgeon is paid more
- the situation and the meaning of the act are different (the answer)
- cutting is always legal
The same physical act is judged by its context.

5 questions

Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.

Worksheet

3 questions, 10 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.

Crime and deviance

Cambridge IGCSE Sociology 0495 · 10 marks · papermunch.org

Name ______________________________ Date ______________

What is meant by the term "deviance"?[2]
Show answerHide answer
Behaviour that breaks the norms of a society or group and is disapproved of.
I got this one
Describe the difference between crime and deviance, with an example of each.[4]
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A crime is an act that breaks the law and can be punished by the state, such as theft. Deviance is behaviour that breaks social norms, such as wearing very unusual clothes. Not all deviance is criminal, and not all crime is seen as deviant.
I got this one
Explain what is meant by the "relativity" of crime and deviance.[4]
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Whether an act counts as criminal or deviant is not fixed. It varies between societies, between cultures, between situations and over time. For example, an act that is legal in one country may be a crime in another, and laws change as attitudes change.
I got this one

Answers: Crime and deviance

1. Behaviour that breaks the norms of a society or group and is disapproved of.
2. A crime is an act that breaks the law and can be punished by the state, such as theft. Deviance is behaviour that breaks social norms, such as wearing very unusual clothes. Not all deviance is criminal, and not all crime is seen as deviant.
3. Whether an act counts as criminal or deviant is not fixed. It varies between societies, between cultures, between situations and over time. For example, an act that is legal in one country may be a crime in another, and laws change as attitudes change.