What is crime?

Crime is an infraction of criminal law. Crime is an act that breaks the law. Many sociologists have
discussed the issue of crime in terms of morality, but unlike the majority of earlier writers, they
tended not to use an absolute or universal notion of morality, but unlike the majority of earlier
writers, they tended not to use an absolute or universal notion of morality, but view moral precepts
in particular historical and cultural settings. EG – Murder is a crime, stealing or robbing someone
else’s money is crime.

Poverty in most cases is responsible for crime. Out of hunger and starvation people will take the
easy way out. Also, in India, most of the crimes are related to - Zan, Zar , Zameen – Gold (money),
women and land.

Deviance-

Deviance is any social behaviour which departs from that regarded as normal or socially acceptable
within a society or social context. Furthermore not all criminal behaviour will always be labelled as
deviance, like minor traffic violations, etc. Deviance or deviation is committing an act that breaks the
norms of society.

Difference between crime and deviance

Crime
1. Crime is an act that visibly harms
another person.
2. Crime is an act that deviates from the
social norm but definitely with negative
consequences for another person.
3. An action becomes crime on the basis of
the law of the society
4. Crime is country specific and its
definition may vary one country to
another. Eg- Homosexuality is a crime in
India but not in Germany or France.
5. Crimes are deviant behaviour.
Deviance
Deviant behaviour not necessarily harms
another person.
Deviance is a behaviour that deviates from
the social norm with or without negative
consequences for another person.
An action becomes deviance on the basis of
social practices of the society.
Deviance is more universal. Eg- Drug addiction
But all deviant behaviours are not crime.

Social Practices – Social practices are those behaviours which are accepted by the larger population
of that society.