Deck 6: Deviance and Social Control

Question 1

Which of the following does structural strain theory assume?

A)There is a wide-spread consensus on the legitimate means for achieving goals.
B)Success is always attainable through conventional means or conformity.
C)The harmony between societal goals and the means of achieving them creates strain.
D)Society reflects low levels of social solidarity.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Any behavior, practice, attitude, or condition that violates a cultural norm or societal law that results in disapproval is ______.

A)crime
B)pluralistic
C)functionalist
D)deviance

Answer 2

D

Question 3

In U.S.society, having excessive tattoos may be considered ______.

A)criminal
B)deviant
C)atavistic
D)pluralistic

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following is a characteristic of deviance?

A)It is limited to criminal actions.
B)It is often restricted to certain racial, gender, and age groups.
C)It does not include moral judgments.
D)It includes medical conditions, illnesses, and physical abnormalities.

Question 5

Durkheim suggested that ______ levels of suicide were correlated with ______.

A)lower; higher levels of strain
B)lower; higher levels of anomie
C)higher; lower levels of social solidarity
D)higher; lower levels of anomie

Question 6

Which of the following is characteristic of a functionalist view of deviance?

A)High rates of deviance are useful.
B)The labeling of some as deviant decreases social solidarity.
C)Deviance enhances our sense of the boundaries between right and wrong.
D)Who is and who is not labeled deviant reflects the interests of the ruling class.

Question 7

Which of the following is true of phrenology?

A)It has been disproven.
B)It was focused on studying the bodies of nondeviants.
C)It claimed that skull configurations of deviant individuals were no different than those of nondeviants.
D)It led researchers to abandon the search for biological causes of deviance.

Question 8

There is a diversity of opinion regarding deviance and criminality because most societies are ______.

A)vengeful
B)postindustrial
C)homogenous
D)pluralistic

Question 9

The ______ perspective sees a certain amount of deviance as useful for society.

A)conflict
B)interactionist
C)feminist
D)functionalist

Question 10

Which of the following is illustrative of dynamic definitions of deviance in the United States?

A)long-held beliefs and practices
B)the seriousness of the label criminal
C)the shifting legal status of marijuana
D)the search for biological causes of deviance

Question 11

An act defined in the law as punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both is referred to as ______.

A)deviance
B)a capital offense
C)a crime
D)structural strain

Question 12

An early social scientist believed that the shape and size of an individual's skull could reveal their deviant nature.Which of the following theories does this researcher believe has merit?

A)atavism
B)biopsychology
C)phrenology
D)functionalism

Question 13

What is structural strain?

A)the process of becoming stigmatized or branded as highly disgraceful
B)the conflicting interest of different segments of the population
C)a form of anomie that occurs when a gap exists between the motivation to engage in deviant acts and the opportunity to engage in deviant acts
D)a form of anomie that occurs when a gap exists between the culturally defined goals of a society and the means available to achieve those goals

Question 14

Theories that explain why deviance occurs are referred to as ______, while theories that explain how deviance occurs are referred to as ______.

A)interactionist; explanatory
B)explanatory; functionalist
C)functionalist; biological
D)explanatory; interactionist

Question 15

Structural strain theory explores the ______.

A)risk of children of deviant parents becoming deviant themselves
B)deviant behavior of twins
C)impediments some members of a society have to achieve societal goals
D)brain activity in individuals who have committed crimes

Question 16

Some early social theorists claimed that deviants were ______ or throwbacks to primitive early humans.

A)noncriminal
B)atavisms
C)primary deviants
D)Neanderthals

Question 17

Which of the following did Durkheim discover?

A)Married men had higher rates of suicide than single men.
B)Protestants had higher rates of suicide than Catholics.
C)Women had higher rates of suicide than men.
D)Poorer people had higher rates of suicide than wealthy people.

Question 18

According to Merton's typology of deviance, which of the following would be a deviant reaction to strain?

A)conformity
B)innovation
C)obedience
D)rationalism

Question 19

Robert K.Merton adopted which sociologists' concept of anomie into a general concept of deviance?

A)Freud
B)Durkheim
C)Weber
D)Beaver

Question 20

______ offenses are crimes punishable by death.

A)Deviant
B)Capital
C)Federal
D)State

Question 21

The idea that laws are designed in the interests of the ruling class is central to ______.

A)class-dominant theories
B)control theories
C)capitalist culture theories
D)strain theories

Question 22

Labeling theory is sometimes referred to as which of the following?

A)everyday deviance theory
B)conflict theory
C)differential association theory
D)societal reaction theory

Question 23

A female student who has multiple sexual partners is labeled a "slut," while a male student with the same number of sexual partners is praised by his social peers.Which of the following statements does this scenario reflect?

A)Women's deviant behavior is more likely to be stigmatized.
B)Women are less likely to be labeled deviant.
C)Men are victimized by virtue of their gender.
D)Most research on deviance has been conducted by, and about, men.

Question 24

______ deviance occurs at the moment an activity is labeled deviant by others.

A)Primary
B)Secondary
C)Formal
D)Informal

Question 25

Which of the following observations was the starting point of feminist explanations of deviance?

A)Studies of deviance have unnecessarily focused on why rates of deviance vary by gender.
B)Studies of deviance have overemphasized gender-specific cultural norms.
C)Studies of deviance have been biased because almost all research has been done by, and about, men.
D)Studies of deviance have stigmatized women's deviant behavior.

Question 26

Sara is a 19-year-old college student who decides to attend a fraternity party where she and other college students will be drinking.What type of deviance is this considered?

A)sexual deviance
B)underage deviance
C)everyday deviance
D)juvenile delinquency

Question 27

A worker wants to go to a concert out of town but needs to work that day.The worker decides to call in sick and go to the concert.What would this be called?

A)everyday deviance
B)primary deviance
C)secondary deviance
D)cultural deviance

Question 28

Which of the following is true of the conflict perspective?

A)It assumes shared norms and values.
B)It presumes that groups with power will use that power to maintain control.
C)It assumes that most deviant acts are spontaneous.
D)It presumes that deviance arises from social bonds.

Question 29

Which theory of deviance asserts that people differ not only in their motivation to engage in deviant acts but also in the opportunity to engage in deviant acts?

A)strain theory
B)opportunity theory
C)control theory
D)conflict theory

Question 30

Which of the following theories of deviance argues that conflicts generated by fundamental contradictions in the structure of society produce laws defining certain acts as deviant or criminal?

A)strain theory
B)structural contradiction theory
C)differential association theory
D)opportunity theory

Question 31

The desire of capitalist employers to keep wages down, yet their reliance on high-wage earners to buy their products is an example of which of the following theories of deviance?

A)strain theory
B)opportunity theory
C)differential association theory
D)structural contradiction theory

Question 32

Which of the following theories explains that the probability of delinquency or deviance among children and teenagers is rooted in social control?

A)strain theory
B)control theory
C)opportunity theory
D)class-dominant theory

Question 33

Which of the following theories identifies the role of cultural diversity in conflicts between social groups?

A)feminist theories
B)subcultural theories
C)control theories
D)labeling theories

Question 34

What does the popularity of Fifty Shades of Grey say about sexual deviance?

A)We are witnessing a process of redefinition of what sexual deviance means.
B)Traditional notions regarding sex are still mainstream.
C)Sexual deviance and sexual crimes are synonymous.
D)Sexual deviance is ubiquitous and wide-ranging.

Question 35

Which of the following reflects class-dominant theories of deviance?

A)The disparity in severity of sentencing for pure cocaine and crack cocaine is so large because there is more opportunity to buy crack cocaine.
B)The passage of marijuana decriminalization legislation is deterred because the marijuana is helping cancer patients.
C)Individuals turn to robbery and larceny because they lack legitimate educational and employment opportunities.
D)Those who graffiti a building will be labeled as criminal because private property is a key foundation of capitalism.

Question 36

Which theory would argue that kids and teenagers exposed to buying and selling drugs would be more likely to develop attitudes favorable to buying and selling drugs?

A)labeling theory
B)subcultural theory
C)class-dominant theory
D)differential association theory

Question 37

Which of the following types of deviance occurs when a person labeled deviant accepts the label and acts in accordance with it?

A)personal deviance
B)acceptance deviance
C)secondary deviance
D)recidivist deviance

Question 38

Which of the following is true of control theory?

A)It rejects the functionalist perspective of deviance.
B)It argues that a person's acceptance or rejection of societal norms depends on that person's experiences.
C)It asserts that deviance arises from anomie.
D)It assumes that most deviant acts are premeditated.

Question 39

A researcher proposes that bank tellers are more likely to engage in theft because they have easy access to money.This statement reflects which of the following theories?

A)strain theory
B)control theory
C)opportunity theory
D)class-dominant theory

Question 40

Which theory asserts that deviant behavior is a result of the labels people attach to certain types of behavior?

A)opportunity theory
B)differential association theory
C)labeling theory
D)feminist theory

Question 41

Detentions, suspensions, and expulsions in schools are on the rise due to ______.

A)juvenile delinquency
B)unfit teachers
C)zero-tolerance policies
D)mandatory minimums

Question 42

Which of the following plays a significant role in the success of informal social control?

A)inequality
B)the sociological imagination
C)socialization
D)deviance

Question 43

Increased police presence in school has led to which of the following?

A)more student arrests for infractions that would otherwise have been handled by the school
B)a reduction in student infractions
C)a focus on more serious infractions rather than on minor ones
D)increased understanding between students and police officers

Question 44

In 2018, Officer Jason Van Dyke was charged with murder in the 2017 shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.The shooting is an example of which of the following?

A)organized crime
B)state crime
C)police brutality
D)blue-collar crime

Question 45

Thomas and his friends run a drug trafficking ring in Dallas.This would be considered what type of crime?

A)assault
B)violent crime
C)organized crime
D)white-collar crime

Question 46

______ reduces a judge's ability to use their discretion when sentencing.

A)Mandatory minimum sentencing
B)Zero-tolerance policies
C)Capital punishments
D)Social power

Question 47

Which of the following is characterized as an attempt by people or groups to control the behaviors of others in order to obtain conformity to established norms?

A)social power
B)social control
C)primary deviance
D)secondary deviance

Question 48

Which type of crime is committed to advance government interest?

A)organized crime
B)state crime
C)white-collar crime
D)violent crime

Question 49

The U.S.imprisons a higher percentage of the population than any other advanced industrialized nation.Which of the following is one reason for the high incarceration rate?

A)flexible sentencing
B)the failure of informal social control
C)mandatory drug treatment
D)three strikes laws

Question 50

In many states, ex-offenders who served time for a felony lose their ______.

A)civil liberties
B)voting rights
C)civil rights
D)human rights

Question 51

Joel and his friend decided to take his neighbors' car for a spin, but instead never returned the car and sold it for money.This is an example of what type of crime?

A)organized crime
B)state crime
C)property crime
D)violent crime

Question 52

Which of the following is a reason why people of color are more likely than Whites to be arrested and imprisoned?

A)Many more non-Whites are arrested for crimes.
B)Policing generally focuses on poor neighborhoods.
C)The "War on Drugs" is over.
D)The U.S.Supreme Court has ordered the state to reduce its prison population.

Question 53

Which group is most likely to receive punishment for disciplinary fractions in school?

A)Black students
B)White students
C)Asian students
D)Latinx students

Question 54

______ is the ability to exercise social control.

A)Social power
B)Institutional power
C)Leadership
D)Dominance

Question 55

The policies that punish at-risk schoolchildren by pushing them to juvenile and criminal justice systems are known as/referred to as which of the following?

A)school-to-prison pipeline
B)mandatory minimums
C)zero-tolerance policies
D)"three strikes" laws

Question 56

Which of the following is an example of white-collar crime?

A)motor vehicle theft
B)arson
C)insider trading
D)weapons and drug smuggling

Question 57

Which of the following is necessary for an act to be considered criminal?

A)deviance
B)injury
C)intention
D)malice

Question 58

Which of the following is an example of informal social control?

A)issuing a ticket for speeding
B)making a child apologize for taking something without asking
C)issuing a fine for unpaid taxes
D)getting arrested for drinking under the influence of alcohol

Question 59

Kathy needs to borrow money but cannot get a conventional loan.She contacts a private financier who loans the money at a rate much higher than the legal interest rate.What is the crime committed by the financier called?

A)property crime
B)white-collar crime
C)state crime
D)organized crime

Question 60

Which of the following is considered a property crime?

A)assault
B)robbery
C)rape
D)burglary

Question 61

Explain the difference between deviance and crime.

Question 62

Capital crimes are those severe enough to qualify for the death penalty.

Question 63

A crime is always considered deviant.

Question 64

Which of the following countries practices the death penalty most frequently?

A)Brazil
B)Mexico
C)China
D)Nigeria

Question 65

Which racial group received the death penalty 3 times higher than Whites?

A)Black Americans
B)Asian Americans
C)Latinx American
D)Indigenous Americans

Question 66

Property and violent crimes in the United States have been steadily increasing.

Question 67

The majority of early biological theories have stood the test of time and are widely supported by modern criminologists and sociologists.

Question 68

The United States is a pluralistic society.Explain what is meant by this statement and illustrate it with examples.Include at least one example that illustrates changes over time.

Question 69

Which of the following is true of the death penalty?

A)Few modern democratic states use it.
B)Evidence shows that the death penalty deters crime.
C)It is less costly than life in prison.
D)Most U.S.states use capital punishment.

Question 70

People may disagree on what is considered deviant, but sociologists have the academic authority to determine what is deviant or not.

Question 71

Some traditional ideas about sex, such as the idea of waiting to have sex until marriage, are becoming increasingly viewed as deviant.

Question 72

Countries that provide a wider social safety net for their citizens witness lower rates of crime.

Question 73

Data show that the powerful are less likely to escape punishment for deviance.

Question 74

A national "ban the box" movement has arisen with the goal of eliminating the box that ______ applicants are sometimes required to check on their applications if they have been convicted of a crime.

A)grant
B)housing
C)college
D)job

Question 75

Capital punishment is used in how many U.S.states?

A)all states
B)28 states
C)11 states
D)18 States

Question 76

Zero-tolerance policies have contributed to the school to prison pipeline.

Question 77

Which of the following crimes is punishable by death in the United States?

A)treason
B)embezzlement
C)mail fraud
D)manslaughter

Question 78

A(n) ______ crime is a crime severe enough to merit the death penalty.

A)organized
B)premeditated
C)state
D)capital

Question 79

While there is widespread agreement that certain acts, such as homicide or sexual molestation, are deviant, there is a lack of consensus about many other behaviors, such as visible tattoos and facial piercings.

Question 80

People who oppose the death penalty state that it is a violation of ______ rights.

A)civil
B)human
C)criminal
D)voting