Question 1

In Wayward Pilgrims,Kai Erikson built on Émile Durkheim's concept of deviance,concluding that:

Accepted Answer

In Wayward Pilgrims, Kai Erikson built on Durkheim's idea of deviance to argue that a society needs a certain amount of deviance to function properly. Deviance serves as a boundary marker, reinforcing societal norms and values. Without deviance, society would not be able to maintain social order and stability. Therefore, in Erikson's view, deviance is not inherently negative, but rather a necessary component of social organization.

Question 2

With which of the following statements might a conflict theorist most closely agree?

Accepted Answer

A conflict theorist would view deviant behavior as a response to inequalities in society, particularly in capitalist societies where there is an unequal distribution of power and resources. Deviance is seen as a result of individuals who are excluded from the benefits of the dominant culture and economic system, and who therefore seek alternative means of achieving their goals or expressing their dissatisfaction. This perspective emphasizes the role of power imbalances and social structures in shaping deviant behavior, rather than individual psychology or biology.

Question 3

Which theory explains why focusing on minor crimes like traffic violations and drinking or using illegal drugs in public underpinned proactive policing in the late 1980s and early 1990s?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which theory explains why focusing on minor...

Question 4

Alisa's neighborhood is usually quiet,but the local newspaper noted an increase in criminal activity there.One morning,Alisa found her garage vandalized and covered in paint and eggs.She did not have time to clean up the mess right away.Her neighbors offered to help clean up her garage in the hope that the crime might stop.Later that week,Alisa's neighbor found his car windshield shattered.The following day,Alisa's bicycle was stolen from her porch.What type of theorist would be the most likely to agree with the idea that a vandalized garage could lead to more crime?

Accepted Answer

The theorist who would agree with the idea that a vandalized garage could lead to more crime is the Broken Windows Theory. This theory suggests that visible signs of disorder and crime, such as broken windows and vandalism, create an environment in which more serious crimes are likely to occur. The theory argues that if minor instances of disorder and crime are tolerated and not addressed, it sends a signal that no one cares about the community, making it more likely that more serious criminal activity will occur.

Question 5

Which of the following explanations for NOT cheating on this exam is supported by control theory?

Accepted Answer

Control theory suggests that people are motivated to conform to social norms and expectations in order to maintain their self-image and avoid feeling guilty or ashamed. Sitting in the front of the class and being afraid of getting caught aligns with social norms against cheating and can serve as a deterrent to cheating behavior.

Question 6

Recent criminological research has found that adolescents in romantic relationships are less likely to commit crime than other adolescents,"perhaps because romantic love discourages offending by strengthening the social bond." (Source: McCarthy and Casey.2008."Love,Sex,and Crime: Adolescent Romantic Relationships and Offending." American Sociological Review 73: 944-969).This finding best supports which of the following theories of crime?

Accepted Answer

This finding supports the control theory of crime, which suggests that individuals are less likely to commit criminal acts when they have stronger bonds to conventional society, such as through romantic relationships. The social bond created through romantic love may act as a form of control in preventing adolescents from engaging in criminal activities.

Question 7

Which of the following statements best illustrates Howard S.Becker's labeling theory of deviance?

Accepted Answer

Labeling theory suggests that being labeled as a deviant can lead to further deviant behavior. The statement about ex-offenders not being called back by employers illustrates how being labeled as a criminal affects future opportunities and reinforces deviant identity.

Question 8

Putting locks on mailboxes is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Target hardening refers to increasing security measures or making a target less attractive to potential offenders. Putting locks on mailboxes is an example of target hardening. Anomie refers to a lack of social norms, community policing refers to collaboration between law enforcement and the community, and labeling and deviance refer to concepts related to the categorization and stigmatization of individuals who engage in nonconformist behavior.

Question 9

Which theory begins with the assumption that given the opportunity,all of us would engage in deviant acts?

Accepted Answer

The theory that begins with the assumption that given the opportunity, all of us would engage in deviant acts is the control theory. This theory suggests that it is our social bonds and the level of control imposed upon us by society that prevents us from engaging in deviance. Without these social controls, individuals would be more likely to engage in deviant behavior.

Question 10

All of the following are unintended consequences of target hardening in recent years EXCEPT that:

Accepted Answer

The unintended consequence of needing fewer law enforcement officers in urban areas is not mentioned in the passage as a result of target hardening. The other options are mentioned as possible unintended consequences.

Question 11

Labeling theorists interpret deviance as:

Accepted Answer

Labeling theorists view deviance as a process of interaction between deviants and nondeviants, where social reactions and labels are applied to behavior as deviant. It is not viewed as an intrinsic characteristic of actions or a genetically determined component of personality. It is also not entirely determined by macrosociological phenomenon, although social construction plays a role in labeling behavior as deviant. It is not something that anyone would do given the opportunity, as it is dependent on social context and labeling by others.

Question 12

Émile Durkheim argues that deviance allows us to understand the standards of a society.What solution to deviance does he propose?

Accepted Answer

Durkheim proposes that deviance is natural and necessary for society, as it allows for the reaffirmation of social norms and values. However, deviance must be kept within acceptable boundaries in order to avoid chaos and anarchy. Therefore, the solution to deviance is to regulate and control it, rather than trying to eliminate it altogether.

Question 13

The type of theorist who might argue that even the definition of crime is class biased,for example,that the crimes listed in the Uniform Crime Reports are crimes disproportionately committed by members of the lower class in the United States,is

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists would argue that the definition and enforcement of crime are heavily influenced by the interests of the ruling class and therefore biased against the lower class. They would point out that the crimes listed in the Uniform Crime Reports, such as theft and drug offenses, are more likely to be committed by those living in poverty and facing limited opportunities, rather than by the affluent. This theory highlights the power struggle between different social groups and their differing interpretations of what constitutes criminal behavior.

Question 14

According to ________ theorists,the criminal justice system has become increasingly oppressive toward working-class offenders .

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists argue that the criminal justice system is biased against working-class individuals, particularly people of color, who are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. They argue that the system is designed to maintain the power of the ruling class and control the behavior of the working class, rather than to promote justice and reduce crime. This perspective suggests that the system has become increasingly oppressive toward working-class offenders over time.

Question 15

According to Edwin Sutherland,criminals adopt criminal behavior because they:

Accepted Answer

Edwin Sutherland's differential association theory posits that individuals learn criminal behavior through interactions with criminal peers and exposure to values and attitudes that support criminal activity. It is based on the idea that criminal behavior is not innate or genetic, but rather learned through socialization and environmental factors.

Question 16

A common criticism of labeling theory is that labeling theorists:

Accepted Answer

Labeling theory is criticized for neglecting the processes and mechanisms that lead to acts being defined as deviant. This theory focuses solely on the societal reaction to the individual, rather than the individual's actions or choices. This oversight makes it difficult to fully understand how and why certain actions come to be labeled as deviant in the first place.

Question 17

If you live in a high-crime area,many of the people you will befriend will be involved in criminal activities,thus increasing your opportunity to learn criminal behavior.The conceptual context for this phenomenon is known as:

Accepted Answer

Differential association theory proposes that criminal behavior is learned through social interactions and associations with others who engage in criminal activities. Living in a high-crime area increases the likelihood of forming relationships with individuals who participate in criminal behavior, providing more opportunities to learn and engage in such behavior oneself.

Question 18

According to differential association theory,a person who is more likely to be a delinquent is a:

Accepted Answer

Differential association theory suggests that individuals learn criminal behavior from their social interactions and associations. Thus, a person who is more likely to be a delinquent is someone who has frequent interactions with friends who engage in criminal activity, as in option B. Option A is less likely because if the person's friends do not commit crime, they are less likely to learn criminal behavior. Option C is not relevant to the theory, and option D assumes that opportunities alone lead to criminal behavior, which is not necessarily true. Option E is not relevant to the theory either.

Question 19

In the movie One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest,one of the patients in the mental hospital tells the other inmates that they are not crazy and they should not act as though they are just because the head nurse tells them they are.Which of the following theories best explains the patients' behaviors?

Accepted Answer

The theory of labeling, also known as social reaction theory, suggests that deviant behavior can be amplified by the labeling process, which occurs when individuals are labeled as deviant by others. In the movie, the head nurse labels the patients as "crazy," which leads to their self-identification as such. The patient who tells the others they are not crazy is attempting to challenge this label and encourage the others to reject it as well.

Question 20

Sixteen-year-old Pat is arrested and held in juvenile detention for 30 days.When he is released and returns to school,he brags about his time incarcerated.Pat's boasting is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Secondary deviation occurs when an individual internalizes and accepts their deviant behavior as part of their identity. Pat's boasting about his time in juvenile detention suggests that he now identifies with a deviant lifestyle, making this an example of secondary deviation.

Quiz 7: Conformity, deviance, and Crime