Which term refers to laws shaped by cultural context?

• A. Criminal behaviour
• B. Deviance
• C. Biological theories
• D. Social construction

Answer: (D)

Laws and what counts as crime are not universal truths; they arise from the beliefs, norms, and power dynamics of a particular culture. This means legal definitions and punishments are shaped through social processes, negotiation, and historical context. The term that captures this idea is social construction, which sees crime and law as products of how a society constructs and manages its norms and authority.

Criminal behaviour refers to acts that may be illegal, but it doesn’t address how the law itself is created. Deviance concerns violations of social norms, not specifically legal rules. Biological theories explain crime through biological factors rather than social or cultural ones. So the concept that best fits the idea of laws shaped by cultural context is social construction.