Difference Between Crime And Deviant Behavior

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What is the difference between deviant behavior and criminal behavior? Give examples

The crime and deviance are both complex to be defined, as they are constantly changing over time and circumstances. If we view carefully, the deviance and crime are two different things. All criminal behaviors are deviant, but not all deviant behaviors are a crime. Criminal behavior could be assumed as a harmful behavior which is not only against the law but also relies upon the quality of injury or social detriment to be caused. For example, the acts such as murder, rape and theft are prohibited as they are harmful to the society in any given context, committing them not only mean break the law but also will cause collective injury or detriment. In the other side, deviant behaviors relate to any act that violates the norm. The quality of the act does not matter here, what matter …show more content…

How does deviant behavior differ from one cultural context and another? Give examples

Deviant behavior could be relative (limited) to place and time, as what is considered deviant in one context might not be deviant in another (e.g. kissing boyfriend or girlfriend at the open space is deviant in my context, but might not be deviant in some other places). Murder another human is considered wrong, but when governments permit it during warfare or for self-defence, then it will be fine.

3. What do we mean when we say “crime is a social construct”?

Crime is socially constructed. The reason is that its existence would not be explained as independent but instead, is built by the certain society, and it depends on the quest 'when and where ' it applies for. There is no such behavior that intrinsically criminal without collective entity formulates it so. What I understood from the readings, criminal acts are not static but constantly changing over time, as vibrant as the fluctuations perspectives within the society.

4. Complete the Review Exercise on p17 of the Bradley and Walters

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