Question 1

From a functionalist perspective, when punishment of deviant behavior is public it serves to
A) reaffirm the collective beliefs and values of the society.
B) protect the prosecutors from appearing unethical.
C) reinforce the idea that crime brings one publicity.
D) encourage future deviant behavior.

Accepted Answer

Public punishment of deviant behavior serves to reaffirm the collective beliefs and values of society by demonstrating the consequences of violating social norms, thus reinforcing social cohesion and order.

Question 2

How do sociologists define deviance?
A) As any behavior that is extreme and unsettling
B) As behavior that violates expected social norms
C) As behavior that matches social values
D) They look at what the media focuses on

Accepted Answer

Deviance is defined by sociologists as behavior that violates expected social norms.

Question 3

When a student violates customary norms, he or she is engaging in deviance.
A) informal
B) formal
C) impersonal
D) personal

Accepted Answer

Informal deviance refers to the violation of customary norms or social expectations that are not codified into law.

Question 4

In order for something to be considered deviant
A) it must be against the law.
B) everyone in society must regard it as deviant.
C) it must violate socially created rules and norms.
D) it must have negative consequences.

Accepted Answer

Deviance is defined as behavior that violates socially created rules and norms, regardless of whether it is illegal or has negative consequences.

Question 5

Which of the following questions would a sociologist not be likely to ask about deviance?
A) Why are some behaviors defined as deviant while others are not?
B) Why is deviance more common in some social groups than others?
C) Why do some personality types act more deviant than other personality types?
D) How does the criminal justice system reflect social inequality?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists focus on social structures and cultural norms rather than individual personality traits to understand deviance.

Question 6

According to Durkheim, why do societies actually need deviance?
A) In order to recognize normal behavior
B) To make most people feel morally superior
C) To support the existence of a prison system of employment
D) In order to shake up society so it can be reorganized in a better fashion

Accepted Answer

Deviance helps define what is considered normal behavior by contrasting it with what is not acceptable, thus reinforcing societal norms and values.

Question 7

Acquaintance rape (also called "date rape"), for example, was not considered social deviance until.
A) the Stone Age.
B) the Middle ages.
C) fairly recently.
D) the Industrial Revolution.

Accepted Answer

Acquaintance rape was not widely recognized as a form of social deviance until fairly recently, as societal awareness and understanding of sexual violence have evolved over time.

Question 8

The sociological studies of gangs in the U.S. has found that
A) gang behavior is always extremely deviant.
B) joining a gang may be an adaptation to conditions of poverty, racism, and sexism.
C) girls who are given too much freedom to make choices about their lives are more likely to commit acts of deviance, including joining gangs.
D) family dynamics are unrelated to the decision to join a gang.

Accepted Answer

Joining a gang can be an adaptation to conditions of poverty, racism, and sexism, as these social factors can influence individuals to seek belonging and support in gang environments.

Question 9

Sociologists would consider crime to be a form of deviance.
A) informal
B) formal
C) situational
D) inherent

Accepted Answer

Crime is considered a form of formal deviance because it involves the violation of laws, which are formalized norms.

Question 10

According to the text, the example of attitudes toward smoking in the U.S. demonstrates the notion that
A) perceptions of deviance are influenced by social change.
B) smoking should not have been considered acceptable.
C) laws are needed in order to best define deviant behavior.
D) evidence of risk is enough to change behavior.

Accepted Answer

Perceptions of deviance are influenced by social change, as societal attitudes towards smoking have shifted over time, reflecting changes in social norms and values.

Question 11

From a sociological standpoint, the situation of the rugby team stranded for months in the Andes demonstrates that eating human flesh
A) is immoral and irrational.
B) stems from a psychologically disordered behavior.
C) may be a rational response to a difficult situation.
D) is normal.

Accepted Answer

In extreme survival situations, such as being stranded without food, consuming human flesh can be seen as a rational response to ensure survival. This perspective considers the context and the dire circumstances faced by the individuals.

Question 12

A soldier who kills in battle is not considered deviant, but a murderer is. This illustrates the point that
A) killing is not morally deviant.
B) whether or not behavior is considered deviant depends on the context.
C) soldiers are not judged as harshly as others in the general population when it comes to how they behave.
D) military law supersedes civil law.

Accepted Answer

The perception of deviance is context-dependent; killing in battle is socially sanctioned, whereas murder is not.

Question 13

According to Durkheim, deviance is functional because it
A) threatens the social order.
B) helps members of a society know what is considered normal behavior.
C) points out the flaws in how a society is organized.
D) creates employment for a large number of people.

Accepted Answer

Durkheim argued that deviance is functional because it clarifies societal norms and helps members understand what is considered acceptable behavior, thus reinforcing social cohesion.

Question 14

From a sociological perspective
A) a specific behavior is either always deviant or never deviant.
B) a behavior may be judged as deviant in one situation but not in another.
C) all members of a society must agree on which acts are deviant and which are not.
D) deviant behaviors never affect large groups of people.

Accepted Answer

Deviance is socially constructed, meaning that what is considered deviant can vary depending on the context, culture, and time period. A behavior may be seen as deviant in one situation but not in another.

Question 15

If a culture considered tattoos a form of deviance, it would categorize it as a type of deviance.
A) formal
B) situational
C) anomic
D) informal

Accepted Answer

Informal deviance refers to behaviors that violate social norms but do not break laws. Tattoos, if considered deviant, would fall under informal deviance as they go against cultural norms rather than legal rules.

Question 16

Which of the following statements about deviance is false?
A) Even the most aberrant or odd behavior may be understood if we understand the situation in which it occurs.
B) Most deviant actions are deviant regardless of the circumstances.
C) Definitions of what is considered deviant behavior may change over time.
D) Some actions are only considered deviant when certain people commit them.

Accepted Answer

Deviance is context-dependent, meaning that what is considered deviant can vary based on circumstances, culture, and time. Therefore, most deviant actions are not inherently deviant regardless of the circumstances.

Question 17

Psychological explanations of deviance emphasize as the underlying cause of deviant behavior, unlike sociological explanations.
A) individual factors
B) the context within which the deviance occurred
C) the effects of labeling
D) patterns of inequality in society

Accepted Answer

Psychological explanations focus on individual factors such as personality traits, mental health issues, or cognitive development, whereas sociological explanations consider broader social contexts and structures.

Question 18

The sociological definition of social deviance
A) stresses social context, not individual behavior.
B) focuses on individual nonconformity.
C) recognizes deviance as being the same for all groups and settings.
D) argues that definitions of deviance remain the same over time.

Accepted Answer

The sociological definition of social deviance emphasizes the importance of social context and how societal norms and reactions define what is considered deviant, rather than focusing solely on individual behavior.

Question 19

In the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, many Americans publicly demonstrated their patriotism. This is an illustration of Durkheim's belief that
A) people only mobilize when they feel threatened.
B) the definition of deviance is relative to the situation.
C) deviance produces social solidarity.
D) deviant labels only apply to the powerless.

Accepted Answer

Durkheim believed that deviance, such as the 9/11 attacks, can lead to increased social solidarity as people come together in response to a common threat or tragedy.

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of informal deviance in US culture?
A) Breaking speeding laws
B) Underage drinking
C) Body piercing
D) Bigamy

Accepted Answer

Body piercing is considered informal deviance as it may violate social norms or expectations but is not illegal.

Quiz 7: Deviance and Crime

From a functionalist perspective, when punishment of deviant behavior is public it serves to

How do sociologists define deviance?

When a student violates customary norms, he or she is engaging in deviance.

In order for something to be considered deviant

Which of the following questions would a sociologist not be likely to ask about deviance?

According to Durkheim, why do societies actually need deviance?

Acquaintance rape (also called "date rape") , for example, was not considered social deviance until.

The sociological studies of gangs in the U.S. has found that

Sociologists would consider crime to be a form of deviance.

According to the text, the example of attitudes toward smoking in the U.S. demonstrates the notion that

From a sociological standpoint, the situation of the rugby team stranded for months in the Andes demonstrates that eating human flesh

A soldier who kills in battle is not considered deviant, but a murderer is. This illustrates the point that

According to Durkheim, deviance is functional because it

From a sociological perspective

If a culture considered tattoos a form of deviance, it would categorize it as a type of deviance.

Which of the following statements about deviance is false?

Psychological explanations of deviance emphasize as the underlying cause of deviant behavior, unlike sociological explanations.

The sociological definition of social deviance

In the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, many Americans publicly demonstrated their patriotism. This is an illustration of Durkheim's belief that

Which of the following is an example of informal deviance in US culture?