SOC225 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Learning Disability, Mental Disorder, Physiognomy
Document Summary
As morals change, so does the definition of what is good/bad. Boundaries of criminal activity and deviance are fluid. Boundaries change in respect to the context and circumstances surrounding. Example: covid-19 circumstances have changed norms, regulations, laws. The social construction of deviance/crime is what allows boundary changes to be influenced by: Society gives meaning to what is considered deviant/criminal, therefore factors affecting society will also change the boundaries of criminology. Multiple perspectives must be taken into account when considering a crime or deviant act. Regardless of where we fall in the range of perspectives, we must acknowledge the existence of multiple perspectives. Can influence law making by making a behaviour more normative in ways such as increasing its frequency. Have a role in shifting moral, normative and criminal boundaries. Each perspective is influenced by the media, public reactions, context, stereotypes, beliefs, characteristics of the victim/offender etc. Time: what is deviant/criminal in one time period may not be in another.
