What are crime, deviance and social control? » Relativity of crime and deviance across societies, cultures, situations and time

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

The concepts of crime, deviance and social control
How crime and deviance are relative across different societies and cultures
How definitions of crime and deviance change over time
How context and situation affect what is considered deviant
Real-world examples and case studies of relative deviance

Understanding Crime, Deviance and Social Control

Crime and deviance are concepts that vary significantly depending on where and when you live. What's considered normal in one society might be shocking in another. Let's explore these fascinating sociological concepts!

Key Definitions:

Crime: Behaviour that breaks the law and is subject to formal punishment.
Deviance: Behaviour that goes against social norms but may not necessarily be illegal.
Social control: The methods used by society to encourage conformity and discourage deviance.
Relativity: The idea that definitions of crime and deviance change depending on social context.

👉 Formal Social Control

Official mechanisms used to enforce rules:

Police and courts
Laws and legislation
Prisons and punishment
Government regulations

👉 Informal Social Control

Unofficial ways society encourages conformity:

Disapproving looks or comments
Gossip and rumours
Family expectations
Peer pressure

The Relativity of Crime and Deviance

One of the most fascinating aspects of crime and deviance is that they are relative concepts - they change based on:

1. Cultural and Societal Differences

What's considered deviant varies dramatically between different societies and cultures. Something completely normal in one place might be shocking or even illegal in another.

🌎 Clothing Norms

In Saudi Arabia, women not covering their hair in public may be considered deviant, while in the UK it's completely normal.

🌭 Food Practices

Eating beef is taboo in Hindu culture in India, while it's a standard part of diets in the UK and USA.

💊 Substance Use

Cannabis use is legal in Canada but illegal in many other countries, showing how the same behaviour can be criminal or acceptable.

Case Study: The Nuer and Dinka Tribes

In certain African tribes like the Nuer and Dinka, cattle raiding from neighbouring tribes was traditionally considered a sign of bravery and masculinity, not theft. Young men were expected to participate in these raids as a rite of passage. This shows how what one society views as criminal (theft), another might view as culturally important and praiseworthy.

2. Changes Over Time

Definitions of crime and deviance aren't fixed - they change throughout history as societies evolve. What was once deviant may become accepted and vice versa.

📅 Historical Shifts in the UK

Homosexuality was illegal in the UK until 1967
Smoking in public places was normal until banned in 2007
Marital rape wasn't recognised as a crime until 1991
Corporal punishment in schools was legal until 1986

🔀 New Forms of Crime

Technology creates new forms of deviance and crime that didn't exist before:

Cyberbullying
Online piracy
Identity theft
Computer hacking

Situational and Contextual Relativity

Even within the same society, what's considered deviant can change depending on the specific situation or context.

🏫 Location Matters

Shouting might be acceptable at a football match but deviant in a library or classroom.

🕐 Timing Changes Things

Drinking alcohol at 8pm is socially acceptable, but at 8am might be seen as problematic.

👨 Status Affects Judgement

The same behaviour may be judged differently based on a person's age, gender, or social status.

Case Study: The Stanford Prison Experiment

In 1971, psychologist Philip Zimbardo conducted an experiment where students were randomly assigned roles as 'prisoners' or 'guards' in a mock prison. Within days, the 'guards' began displaying cruel and deviant behaviour that they would never normally exhibit. This shows how situational context can dramatically change what people consider acceptable behaviour.

Theoretical Perspectives on Relativity

Labelling Theory

This theory suggests that deviance isn't inherent in an act but in how society labels it. The same behaviour might be labelled differently depending on who does it and where.

Example: A teenager taking something from a shop might be labelled a "shoplifter" or "criminal," while a celebrity doing the same might be described as having a "momentary lapse of judgment" or suffering from "stress."

Cultural Relativism

This perspective argues that we should understand behaviours within their cultural context rather than judging them by our own cultural standards.

Example: In some cultures, it's normal for multiple generations to live together, while in others, adults are expected to live independently. Neither approach is inherently right or wrong - they're just different cultural practices.

💡 Why Study Relativity?

Understanding the relativity of crime and deviance helps us to:

Develop cultural awareness and sensitivity
Question our own assumptions about "normal" behaviour
Understand how and why laws change over time
Recognise how power influences what gets defined as deviant

✍ Exam Tip

When discussing the relativity of crime and deviance in your exam:

Use specific examples from different cultures
Consider historical changes in your examples
Explain how context affects definitions of deviance
Link to relevant sociological theories like labelling theory

Conclusion

Crime and deviance are not fixed concepts but relative ones that change across societies, cultures, time periods and situations. What's considered deviant in one context may be perfectly acceptable in another. This relativity highlights how social norms and values shape our understanding of acceptable behaviour, rather than there being universal standards of right and wrong.

By studying these variations, sociologists gain insight into how societies function, how power operates and how social control mechanisms work to maintain order. Next time you find yourself judging behaviour as "weird" or "wrong," remember that someone from a different society or time period might view your normal behaviours in exactly the same way!

🧠 Test Your Knowledge!