CRM 1300 Lecture 2: Chapters One And Two
Document Summary
We must understand the acts social context before we can determine whether it is deviant and how it should be classified. An act id deviant only from the point of view of a set rules and regulations. There is nothing inherent in any act the makes it unlawful. We can define deviance as behaviour that violates the rules. Behaviour that conforms to the standards of that group will often violate the rules of broader society. Consensus theorists believe that law represents the consensus of the people. Consensus theory: laws represent the agreement of most people in society that certain acts should be prohibited by the criminal law. Value: a collective idea about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in particular. The consensus view is also supported by the fact that there is a broad agreement regarding many laws.