SOC 1500 Final: SOC 1500 Final Exam Review

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 1500
• Professor: Graham Brown

Document Summary

4 definitional perspectives in contemporary criminology: legalistic, political, sociological, psychological. Laws are social products, so crime is socially relative in the sense that it is created by legislative activity. Despite canada"s comprehensive legal code, it still adheres to common-law tradition: in such common-law states, individuals may be prosecuted for violating traditional notions of right and wrong even though no violation of written law took place. Problem: changes in laws continue to occur so former so-called crimes may end up being legitimized in the future depending on social/cultural shifts in value (i. e. , euthanasia) Crime is problematic behaviour that contravenes (violates) criminal law and results in difficulties in living within a framework of generally accepted social arrangements. Any behaviour that is maladaptive is considered crime: if criminologists adapted this view, the scope of criminology would be greatly expanded beyond its current state. All actually or potentially harmful behaviours can be studied and documented. Deviant behaviour is human activity that violates social norms.