AC 1.1 Compare criminal and
deviant behaviour.
Defi ning crime: *need to know both legal and social definitions*
Legal definition – criminal behaviour is any action that is forbidden by criminal law.
For a court to consider a defendant’s action to be a crime, the action must normally have two
elements.
ACTUS REUS MENS REA
Guilty act Guilty act
However, there are some exceptions:
Strict liability – Mens rea is not required e.g., Health and Safety
Self-defence – Actus Reus in self-defense is NOT a crime.
Social Definition – not all harmful acts are criminal, not all criminal acts are harmful e.g., anti-
pollution laws, graffiti.
Deviance – not seen as normal by society.
’Behaviour that is unusual and bad or disapproved of such as physically.
assaulting someone for no reason.’
Involves doing something forbidden or unacceptable – breaking a rule.
Formal sanctions- sanctions given by police, courts, schools or any other institution
with authority.
Informal sanctions – given by someone without significant authority (parents,
friends, social group)
Positive sanctions(formal/informal) - reward for positive behaviour (medal)
Social sanctions- ALL sanctions are the way in which society dictates our behaviour
to ensure we conform and behave as others expect us to.
The public often has different views on what is a ‘real crime’ in comparison to the legal
definition. E.g., use of drugs, speed limit. Not all criminal laws are enforced, e.g., white-collar
crimes. This can result in enforcing wrong laws that society has no interest in. Not all acts that
deviant behaviour.
Defi ning crime: *need to know both legal and social definitions*
Legal definition – criminal behaviour is any action that is forbidden by criminal law.
For a court to consider a defendant’s action to be a crime, the action must normally have two
elements.
ACTUS REUS MENS REA
Guilty act Guilty act
However, there are some exceptions:
Strict liability – Mens rea is not required e.g., Health and Safety
Self-defence – Actus Reus in self-defense is NOT a crime.
Social Definition – not all harmful acts are criminal, not all criminal acts are harmful e.g., anti-
pollution laws, graffiti.
Deviance – not seen as normal by society.
’Behaviour that is unusual and bad or disapproved of such as physically.
assaulting someone for no reason.’
Involves doing something forbidden or unacceptable – breaking a rule.
Formal sanctions- sanctions given by police, courts, schools or any other institution
with authority.
Informal sanctions – given by someone without significant authority (parents,
friends, social group)
Positive sanctions(formal/informal) - reward for positive behaviour (medal)
Social sanctions- ALL sanctions are the way in which society dictates our behaviour
to ensure we conform and behave as others expect us to.
The public often has different views on what is a ‘real crime’ in comparison to the legal
definition. E.g., use of drugs, speed limit. Not all criminal laws are enforced, e.g., white-collar
crimes. This can result in enforcing wrong laws that society has no interest in. Not all acts that
