Crime? Deviance?

Question

Can someone tell me examples of crimes that are not usually considered deviant? :S

p.s. that was a question in my sociology text book. weird...

Answer 1

Crime is considered deviance, any way you cut it...

Answer 2

This is a tough question - I have my master's in sociology and it took me a while to think of some examples! I'm not sure if this is what you're textbook is looking for but....

Take the example of jaywalking (crossing the street outside of crosswalks). Technically, it is illegal, which makes it a crime. Is it deviant behavior? No way! Deviant behavior is behavior that goes against the norms of society. Our societal norm says that jaywalking is okay. The same is said of speeding. I might be able to make the argument that someone who drives at or below the speed limit is deviant, even though they are not committing a crime. At the same time, while I may drive 10 mph over I am not deviant even though I am breaking the law.

Another more serious example. Take the case of a woman who is being abused by her husband. Finally she can't take it anymore and kills him one night as he's beating her. Did she commit a crime? Yes. Would she be considered deviant? Probably not.

Answer 3

Dieveant behavior is behavior outside of the norm of the culture. Crime is breaking a written moreway of the society.

I am going to use truancy in an area where there is a high drop out rate. These students are breaking that law, but aren't considered diveant by the people in the communtiy.

Answer 4

Ph.d Professor of Social Welfare/College level

crime is any act that breaks the law.
deviance is any act or behavior that is not viewed as normative behavior. (usually in some sort of bizarre behavior: pedophilia,
bestiality, exhibitionism)

examples:

speeding is a crime; the speeder is not a deviant
slander is a crime; the guilty party is not a deviant