Question 1

Which of the following is an example of Robert Merton's institutionalized means to achieve economic success?

Accepted Answer

Completing college is an example of an institutionalized means to achieve economic success according to Robert Merton. It represents a socially approved method of achieving wealth and success within a society.

Question 2

According to functionalists, deviance is dysfunctional because it:

Accepted Answer

Functionalists argue that deviance is dysfunctional because it decreases confidence in institutions, undermining social order and stability.

Question 3

According to functionalists, deviance is functional because it:

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to functionalists, deviance is functional because...

Question 4

In the context of Robert Merton's strain theory of deviance, _____ is a mode of adaptation in which people do not expect to be rich but get the necessary education and experience to obtain or keep a job.

Accepted Answer

Ritualism, according to Merton's strain theory, involves adhering to socially accepted norms and procedures (like getting an education and gaining experience) without the aim of achieving the cultural goals (such as wealth). This mode of adaptation reflects a commitment to the means but a renouncement of the goals.

Question 5

Victimless crimes are also known as _____.

Accepted Answer

Victimless crimes are often referred to as public order crimes because they are considered offenses against societal norms and regulations rather than direct crimes against specific individuals. These can include acts like drug use, gambling, and prostitution, where the legal system perceives the crime as having no direct victim.

Question 6

In the context of Robert Merton's strain theory, identify one of the institutionalized means to achieve economic success.

Accepted Answer

Merton's strain theory posits that societal norms dictate both the goals people should aspire to and the acceptable means to achieve these goals. Saving money is considered an institutionalized means to achieve economic success within this framework, as it aligns with the socially approved method of accumulating wealth over time.

Question 7

According to Robert Merton, Americans are taught to strive toward the American dream of economic success. He termed these aspirations as _____.

Accepted Answer

Merton referred to the aspirations for economic success and the American dream as "cultural goals," which are the objectives that society encourages individuals to achieve.

Question 8

Identify a statement that is true of high-status people according to conflict theorists.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists argue that the legal system is biased in favor of high-status individuals, meaning that even when they commit crimes, these acts are often subject to fewer or less severe penalties compared to those committed by lower-status individuals. This reflects the power dynamics and inequality within the legal and societal structures.

Question 9

Two of the most influential explanations of deviance offered by functionalists are:

Accepted Answer

Anomie and strain theories are both key concepts within functionalist explanations of deviance. Anomie theory, developed by Emile Durkheim, suggests that deviance occurs when there is a disconnection between societal goals and the means available to achieve them. Strain theory, advanced by Robert Merton, builds on this by proposing that the pressure to achieve socially accepted goals drives individuals to engage in deviant behavior when they are unable to achieve these goals through legitimate means.

Question 10

According to Robert Merton, one of the institutionalized means for achieving the cultural goal of economic success is to:

Accepted Answer

Robert Merton's strain theory suggests that the pursuit of culturally approved goals (such as economic success) can be achieved through institutionalized means, which often involve making sacrifices. This contrasts with seeking quick gratification or shortcuts, which are considered deviant paths.

Question 11

_____ causes inequality and such inequality diminishes women's control over their lives and increases their invisibility as victims.

Accepted Answer

Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property. This system often leads to inequality between genders, diminishing women's control over their lives and increasing their invisibility as victims.

Question 12

Which of the following is a victimless crime?

Accepted Answer

Victimless crimes are those where the action involves consenting adults and does not directly harm other individuals. Offering sexual services for money, when consensual, is often cited as a victimless crime because it involves a private agreement between consenting adults.

Question 13

In the context of Robert Merton's strain theory of deviance, _____ is a mode of adaptation in which people feel so alienated that they want to change the social structure entirely by substituting new goals and means for the current ones.

Accepted Answer

Rebellion is the mode of adaptation in Robert Merton's strain theory of deviance where individuals reject both the existing societal goals and the means to achieve them, seeking to replace them with new goals and means, thus wanting to change the social structure entirely.

Question 14

Clara, a student of sociology, is studying the effects of industrialization in the nineteenth century. She notices that a lot of people from rural areas settled down in cities to take up industrial jobs in that era. This, however, led to a breakdown of societal rules and people became unsure of how to behave because of absent, conflicting, or confusing social norms. In this scenario, Clara is most likely studying the concept of _____.

Accepted Answer

The scenario described fits the concept of anomie, which refers to a state of normlessness where society fails to effectively regulate the expectations or behaviors of its members, often occurring during periods of rapid social change or upheaval, such as the industrialization period mentioned.

Question 15

In the context of Robert Merton's strain theory, which of the following modes of adaptation do most people use to resolve their social strain?

Accepted Answer

Conformity is the mode of adaptation most people use according to Robert Merton's strain theory. It involves adhering to societal norms and values to achieve culturally approved goals, thus resolving social strain without resorting to deviant behavior.

Question 16

Damion moved with his family to a new urban neighborhood. In his old neighborhood in the countryside, he used to greet people on the road while walking, whereas in his new neighborhood, this behavior is considered inappropriate. Damion is confused by this difference in social norms and is unsure of how to react. In this case, Damion is most likely to have experienced _____.

Accepted Answer

Damion is experiencing anomie, which refers to the confusion that arises when social norms conflict or when an individual moves to a new social environment with different norms and expectations.

Question 17

Which of the following groups is most likely to focus on capitalism, social inequality, and power differences?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists focus on the role of power and inequality in society, and how these factors shape social interactions and institutions.

Question 18

In the context of arrests of females, the gender gap is lowest for:

Accepted Answer

Embezzlement is the crime for which the gender gap in arrests is lowest, meaning that the proportion of females arrested for embezzlement is closer to that of males compared to other crimes. This is often attributed to the types of roles and opportunities in workplaces that can lead to such offenses, where both genders may have similar access.

Question 19

In the context of Robert Merton's strain theory of deviance, people in the _____ mode reject both the goals and the means for success.

Accepted Answer

Retreatism is the mode where individuals reject both the culturally approved goals and the means of achieving them, according to Robert Merton's strain theory of deviance. This can lead to withdrawal from society's expectations through behaviors like drug addiction or vagrancy.

Question 20

Which of the following is a primary characteristic of functionalists' perspective on deviance?

Accepted Answer

Functionalists, like Emile Durkheim, argue that deviance plays an important role in society by challenging existing norms and values, leading to changes and adaptations. They see it as an inevitable and necessary part of social organization, not merely as a negative phenomenon.

Quiz 7: Deviance, Crime, and the Criminal Justice System