Deviance and Crime Overview

What is the social definition of deviance?

What distinguishes crime from deviance?

What type of punishment involves informal sanctions?

Which of the following are considered types of deviance? (Select all that apply)

Consensus crimes are illegal acts that nearly all people agree are bad.

Deviance and crime vary in terms of _____ criteria.

Deviance and Crime

Norms and deviance are relative.
Deviance is a violation of a norm that others define as such.
Crime is deviance that violates the law.
Sanctions are the consequences of violating norms.
Informal punishment is a mild sanction imposed during face-to-face interaction, while formal punishment is imposed by the judicial system.
Stigma is a negative evaluation due to a socially unacceptable marker that distinguishes an individual.

Types of Deviance and Crime

Social diversions are minor acts of deviance perceived as harmless, evoking mild societal reactions.
Social deviations are noncriminal departures from norms subject to official control, with differing opinions on harmfulness.
Conflict crimes are illegal acts considered harmful by some but not others, punishable by the state.
Consensus crimes are illegal acts widely regarded as harmful, resulting in severe state punishment.

Measuring Deviance and Crime

Deviance and crime are measured using the following criteria:
- Severity of the social response
- Perceived harmfulness (actual and perceived)
- Degree of public agreement

Explore the concepts of deviance and crime, including their definitions, types, and societal reactions. This quiz covers various aspects such as sanctions, stigma, and measurement of deviance. Test your understanding of how norms influence behavior and the differences between deviant acts and criminal offenses.