Question 1

The number and scope of mental illnesses recognized today is growing at a significant rate. Which of the following does the textbook identify as associated with this growth?

Accepted Answer

The textbook identifies the use of euphemisms for deviance as associated with the growth in the number and scope of recognized mental illnesses. This suggests that behaviors once considered deviant are now being reclassified as mental health issues.

Question 2

According to advocates for the rehabilitation of offenders, what will be reduced if education and therapy programs for prisoners are offered?

Accepted Answer

Advocates for rehabilitation believe that offering education and therapy programs to prisoners will reduce recidivism, or the likelihood of the offender committing another crime and ending up back in prison. It is not necessarily aimed at reducing decarceration, crime, or medicalization.

Question 3

Analysts suggest that different groups in society are lobbying for legislative reforms that would decriminalize certain categories of conduct. What fact about crime and deviance does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

The fact that different groups in society are lobbying for legislative reforms that would decriminalize certain categories of conduct illustrates that crime and deviance are social constructs. This means that what is considered illegal or deviant behavior is determined by social norms and values, rather than being a fixed or objective concept. As such, what is considered criminal or deviant behavior may change over time and vary across different cultures and societies.

Question 4

What conclusion does the textbook draw from Roger Caron's autobiographical book Go-Boy?

Accepted Answer

The textbook draws the conclusion that prisons are agents of socialization based on the experiences described by Roger Caron in his book Go-Boy, which details his time spent in various Canadian correctional institutions.

Question 5

In a heated class discussion on crime and punishment, Sean was vigorously defending the importance of prisons for a safe society. In support of his position he pointed to recent federal elections in which several parties advocated mandatory minimum sentences as part of a "get tough on crime" approach to public safety. What view of prisons best supports the view Sean was endorsing?

Accepted Answer

Mandatory minimum sentences and a "get tough on crime" approach align with the view that prisons serve as a deterrent to prevent crime by imposing strict penalties.

Question 6

What is the main function of prison according to people who see imprisonment as a means of preventing criminals from imposing further harm on society?

Accepted Answer

People who view imprisonment as a means of preventing criminals from imposing further harm on society believe that the main function of prison is incapacitation. This means that by removing criminals from society, they are unable to commit further crimes and harm others. Deterrence aims to prevent future crimes by convincing potential offenders to not commit a crime due to fear of punishment, social security aims to protect the community from crime through various measures, and rehabilitation aims to reform individuals and prepare them for reentry into society.

Question 7

Some critics argue that the existing prison system does little to help inmates develop pro-social behaviour. They recommend programs to keep criminals, especially young offenders, out of jail. What are these programs known as?

Accepted Answer

The programs recommended in the statement are known as diversion programs. These programs aim to divert offenders away from the criminal justice system and provide them with alternatives to incarceration, such as community service, counseling, or rehabilitation programs. The goal of these programs is to prevent the onset of criminal behavior and promote pro-social behavior.

Question 8

What alternative model to crime and punishment emphasizes individual and social healing, communication, and joint problem-solving between victims and their offenders?

Accepted Answer

Restorative justice emphasizes repairing the harm caused by the crime rather than punishing the offender. It involves bringing together the victim, offender, and community to communicate and jointly work towards resolving the issue. This approach aims to address the root causes of crime, promote healing, and prevent future offenses.

Question 9

What form of punishment was sometimes used on criminals in preindustrial societies?

Accepted Answer

Public humiliation and torture were often used as forms of punishment in preindustrial societies, with the intention of deterring future criminal behavior and showing the public the consequences of breaking the law. This could include public floggings or branding, or more extreme measures like being placed in the stocks or subjected to execution in a public space. Other forms of punishment like religious repentance or incarceration were less common during this time period.

Question 10

A heroin addict is more likely to enter a methadone program now than in the past. What process does this reflect?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A heroin addict is more likely to...

Question 11

When the Canadian public, lawmakers, and officials in the criminal justice system become motivated by media-generated heightened fears that crime poses a grave and immediate danger to society, what are they gripped by?

Accepted Answer

When the public becomes excessively worried about a specific social problem, usually brought on by media coverage, and this worry leads to exaggerated responses and often hasty policy changes, it is called a moral panic.

Question 12

Which disorder was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a result of lobbying by Vietnam War veterans?

Accepted Answer

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1980 as a result of lobbying by Vietnam War veterans. These veterans experienced a range of psychological symptoms after returning from the war, including flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety. By adding PTSD to the DSM, mental health professionals were better equipped to diagnose and treat this condition.

Question 13

What is ironic about the fact that a moral panic about crime is occurring in Canada?

Accepted Answer

The fact that a moral panic about crime is occurring in Canada is ironic because the overall crime rate has been decreasing in recent years. Despite this fact, there is a growing concern and fear about crime, which is disproportionate to actual crime statistics.

Question 14

New prison inmates often become more serious offenders as they adapt to the culture of the hardened long-term prisoners. This is because prisons are which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Prisons are considered agents of socialization where new inmates are introduced to the values, beliefs, and behaviors of long-term prisoners. This process can lead to the adoption of a criminal subculture and escalate their criminal behavior.

Question 15

What term is used for the increasing trend in Canada and other modern cultures to treat deviance with drug therapies and surgeries?

Accepted Answer

The term used for the increasing trend in Canada and other modern cultures to treat deviance with drug therapies and surgeries is the medicalization of deviance. This refers to the shift in perspective from viewing deviance as a moral issue to a medical issue, where deviant behaviors are treated as illnesses that require medical intervention.

Question 16

Rehabilitation, deterrence, and incapacitation are among the several posited goals of incarceration. Which of the following is also put forward by some sociologists as a goal of incarceration?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rehabilitation, deterrence, and incapacitation are among the...

Question 17

Tommy is a young man who has been caught breaking into a home in order to steal electronics. According to the textbook, in which country does he have the highest probability of being incarcerated for his actions?

Accepted Answer

The United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, and also has a higher likelihood of imprisonment for non-violent crimes such as burglary. Canada, China, and Russia all have lower incarceration rates than the United States.

Question 18

Given what is known about capital punishment in the United States, which of the following would be most likely to receive this sentence if Canada reintroduced the death penalty?

Accepted Answer

Based on what is known about capital punishment in the United States, race and victim characteristics are factors that have been shown to influence who receives the death penalty. In the United States, individuals who kill white victims are more likely to be sentenced to death than individuals who kill non-white victims. Additionally, there is evidence to suggest that there is a racial bias in the application of the death penalty, with individuals of color being more likely to receive this sentence than white individuals. Therefore, if Canada were to reintroduce the death penalty, it is possible that an Aboriginal man who murders a white man would be more likely to receive this sentence due to these racial biases.

Question 19

Karl, Steve, and Caroline were back at their old high school for a high school reunion. They had not been to their school in over fifteen years. One of the first things they noticed was that security cameras had been installed at all the entrances and throughout the halls of the school, and that there was now a metal detector at the main doors. What do sociologists claim these changes indicate?

Accepted Answer

The installation of security cameras and metal detectors at a high school can be seen as an indication of a surveillance society in which there is an increased emphasis on monitoring and controlling people's behavior in public spaces. This may be seen as a response to concerns about crime, terrorism and other forms of social disorder. However, some sociologists argue that this kind of monitoring can also have negative effects on civil liberties and social trust.

Question 20

Which of the following is an alternative punishment for prison?

Accepted Answer

Decarceration refers to the reduction of imprisonment as a punishment, and the use of alternative methods such as probation, community service, or electronic monitoring. It has gained popularity as a response to mass incarceration and the recognition that prison often perpetuates rather than solves criminal behavior. Stigmatization and public shame are not considered as formal alternatives to prison, while recidivism refers to a person's tendency to reoffend after being released from prison.

Quiz 5: Deviance and Crime