Question 1

What theory argues that punishments for rule violators are unequally distributed, with those near the top of society subject to more lenient rules and sanctions than those at the bottom?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory argues that punishments for rule violators are unequally distributed, with those near the top of society subject to more lenient rules and sanctions than those at the bottom. This is due to the power dynamics at play in society, where those in positions of power are able to influence the enforcement and interpretation of laws and rules in their favor.

Question 2

If an upper-middle-class, white college student is sentenced to rehab for the same drug crime that a lower-class, black man is sentenced to jail for committing, what might a conflict theorist conclude about deviance?

Accepted Answer

A conflict theorist would argue that the criminal justice system is biased against lower-class and minority individuals, leading to unequal treatment and punishment. In this case, the fact that a white, upper-middle-class individual received a less severe punishment than a black, lower-class individual suggests that the system is not impartial and that those with power or influence are treated with greater leniency.

Question 3

In "On Being Sane in Insane Places," David Rosenhan suggests that:

Accepted Answer

David Rosenhan's study involved researchers posing as "pseudopatients" in a mental hospital, but otherwise acting normally, who were nonetheless treated as insane by the hospital staff. This suggests that it may be difficult for mental health professionals to accurately differentiate between those who are sane and those who are insane, and that the institutional setting and perceptions of the staff can play a significant role in how patients are treated. Options A, B, D, and E are all incorrect and do not accurately reflect Rosenhan's findings.

Question 4

According to the structural strain theory of deviance as articulated by Robert Merton, what is one of the principal reasons people turn to deviant behavior in the United States?

Accepted Answer

According to Merton's structural strain theory, people turn to deviant behavior when they are unable to achieve societal goals through legitimate means. The goal of success is shared by a majority of people in the United States, but not everyone has equal means for achieving that goal. This creates a strain on those who are unable to succeed and may lead them to turn to deviant behavior. Therefore, Choice E is the correct answer. The other choices are not supported by Merton's theory.

Question 5

In Office Space, the character Peter Gibbons spends much of the movie trying to find unconventional and even illegal ways of making more money. According to Robert Merton's typology, what category does Peter fit into?

Accepted Answer

Peter Gibbons is trying to find new and unconventional ways of making money, which aligns with the characteristics of an innovator according to Robert Merton's typology. Innovators reject the conventional means of achieving success and instead seek out new methods to achieve their goals. Peter is not a ritualist because he is not strictly following the traditional means of achieving success, nor is he a rebel because he is not actively opposing the societal norms. He is also not a retreatist as he is actively trying to achieve success, albeit through non-traditional means.

Question 6

Which group of people within the hospital were able to tell that the pseudopatients in David Rosenhan's "On Being Sane in Insane Places" were not actually mentally ill?

Accepted Answer

The other patients were more likely to recognize that the pseudopatients were not actually mentally ill, suggesting a keen insight or awareness among the patient population that was not as evident among the professional staff.

Question 7

According to labeling theory, why were none of the pseudopatients in David Rosenhan's "On Being Sane in Insane Places" discovered?

Accepted Answer

According to labeling theory, once a person has been labeled "mentally ill," it is very hard for anyone to see past the label. In other words, the pseudopatients were not discovered because they were already labeled as "mentally ill" and the staff were not able to see them as anything but patients. Therefore, option E is the correct answer.

Question 8

The parents of a deviant child often want to find some way to excuse their offspring's behavior, and it's common to hear them say, "He just fell in with a bad crowd." Which symbolic interactionist theory of deviance does this explanation most closely resemble?

Accepted Answer

The explanation given by the parents suggests that their child's deviant behavior is a result of being influenced by a group of people who engage in deviant activities. This aligns with the differential association theory, which suggests that individuals learn deviant behavior through their interactions with others who engage in such behavior.

Question 9

The idea that individuals learn to be deviant by interacting with others who are already deviant is called:

Accepted Answer

Differential association theory explains that individuals learn deviant behavior through interaction with others who engage in deviant behavior. The theory suggests that people become deviant when they are exposed to more definitions favoring deviance than definitions against deviance.

Question 10

If you decided that you could never get into a good school and therefore could never get a good job, you might decide to sell crack cocaine instead as a way to make a living. According to Robert Merton, what sort of deviant would you be?

Accepted Answer

According to Robert Merton's strain theory, individuals who have blocked opportunities for achieving financial success may become "innovators" and turn to alternative means, such as illegal activities like drug dealing, to attain their goals. The individual in the scenario is turning to selling drugs as a means of making a living, which falls under the category of an innovator.

Question 11

The fact that many individuals who engage in deviant behaviors have never associated with other deviants is evidence against which theory?

Accepted Answer

Differential association theory suggests that individuals learn deviant behaviors through their socialization and interaction with others who engage in such behaviors. The fact that many individuals who engage in deviant behaviors have never associated with other deviants goes against this theory, suggesting that there may be other factors at play in their behavior.

Question 12

According to conflict theory, why are vagrancy laws passed?

Accepted Answer

According to conflict theory, laws are passed to maintain the power and control of the dominant class. Vagrancy laws are often used to target groups that threaten society's elites, such as the homeless and poor, by criminalizing their existence and deeming them a nuisance to society.

Question 13

In the 1960s Timothy Leary famously advised everyone to "turn on, tune in, and drop out," and, although he insisted that it meant more, most people assumed he was telling them to "get stoned and abandon all constructive activity." How would Robert Merton's structural strain theory classify someone who took this advice?

Accepted Answer

According to Merton's structural strain theory, individuals who reject both cultural goals and institutionalized means to achieve them are classified as retreatists. Leary's advice to "turn on, tune in, and drop out" suggests a disengagement from mainstream society and its values, which fits the definition of a retreatist.

Question 14

Nowhere to Grow by Les Whitbeck and Dan Hoyt explored the lives of homeless and runaway teens in the Midwest. The authors found that "associating with deviant peers" had a dramatic effect on a wide range of deviant behaviors, including increasing "the likelihood of serious substance abuse almost 32 times." What theory of deviance considers the way such interpersonal relationships help to predict deviant behavior?

Accepted Answer

The theory of differential association, developed by Edwin Sutherland, suggests that people learn deviant behaviors through their interpersonal relationships, particularly with deviant peers. This theory also posits that the content of these relationships determines the direction of learning, with more frequent and intense association with deviant peers increasing the likelihood of deviant behavior. The findings of Whitbeck and Hoyt support this theory, as they found that associating with deviant peers was strongly linked to a wide range of deviant behaviors, including substance abuse.

Question 15

Robert Merton's structural strain theory sees deviance as the result of a person's position in a social structure. What do you think Jack Katz, author of Seductions of Crime, would say about structural strain theory?

Accepted Answer

Jack Katz focuses on the emotional and experiential aspects of committing crimes, arguing that the allure of crime often lies in its intrinsic emotional rewards rather than solely in social or structural factors.

Question 16

In "The Saints and the Roughnecks," William Chambliss followed two groups of high school students. The Saints were boys from middle-class homes, while the Roughnecks were from lower-class households. What would you expect Chambliss to have found using conflict theory as a theoretical perspective?

Accepted Answer

Using conflict theory, we can expect that the lower-class Roughnecks may be judged more harshly for their deviant behavior compared to the middle-class Saints. This is because the social norms and values of the school and community may be shaped by the dominant middle-class culture, which may see the behavior of lower-class individuals as more deviant and threatening to their status quo. Additionally, there may be more resources and social capital available to the Saints, which could help them avoid punishment or negative labeling.

Question 17

According to Robert Merton's structural strain theory, which of the following individuals would be LEAST likely to be a deviant?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Robert Merton's structural strain theory,...

Question 18

When a parent argues that her child has simply fallen in with a bad crowd, what theory of deviance is she expressing?

Accepted Answer

The parent is expressing the theory of differential association, which suggests that individuals learn deviant behaviors and attitudes through their association with others who engage in such behaviors.

Question 19

Stealing avocados, or almost any other agricultural product, is a felony in California if the product is worth more than $100. Supporters of the law believe it is the only way to protect farmers from vagrants and transients who can ruin the viability of small farms. However, if you believe that such laws also target homeless people who are simply trying to eat and that they are punished because they have almost no power within society, then you are probably:

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists believe that unequal distribution of power and resources in society leads to conflicts between those who have power and those who do not. This perspective suggests that laws like the one mentioned in the question target homeless people who are already marginalized in society and lack power.

Question 20

Robert Merton developed structural strain theory to explain why deviance happens. What sort of strain does the theory's name refer to?

Accepted Answer

The name of the theory, structural strain theory, refers to the strain between socially approved goals and the means that individuals have for achieving them. Merton argued that when individuals are unable to achieve their goals through legitimate means, they may turn to deviant means as a way of coping with this strain.

Quiz 6: Deviance