Question 1

The primary weakness of the labeling theory is

Accepted Answer

The labeling theory only focuses on how deviance is socially constructed and labeled, but fails to provide an explanation for the reasons behind the behavior that the society deems deviant.

Question 2

The strength of the labeling theory is that it

Accepted Answer

The labeling theory recognizes that the labels attached to individuals can have a powerful impact on their behavior and self-concept. It acknowledges that the judgments people make about perceived deviance can lead to further deviance and reinforces the importance of addressing the societal systems that perpetuate labeling and stigmatization.

Question 3

From a labeling perspective, which of these statements about deviant identity is false?

Accepted Answer

A deviant identity is not simple to change because it is tied to the labels and stigmas imposed by others, and can have long-lasting effects on the person's self-concept and social interactions.

Question 4

A high school student acts bored in class, and the teacher decides she is a bad student. This teacher discusses the student with other teachers who then treat that student as if she were a bad student. This describes the process of

Accepted Answer

This situation describes the process of labeling, where the teacher has attached a negative label to the student based on her behavior, and then other teachers treat her differently based on that label. This can have a negative impact on the student's self-esteem and future behavior in school.

Question 5

When someone violates customary norms that are not specified in the legal code, he or she is engaging in _____ deviance.

Accepted Answer

Customary norms that are not specified in the legal code are often unwritten, informal rules of behavior. When someone violates these norms, they are engaging in informal deviance. Examples of informal deviance include things like belching at the dinner table, not saying "please" and "thank you," or wearing white after Labor Day. Formal deviance, on the other hand, refers to violations of specific laws or regulations, while impersonal and personal deviance are not widely recognized concepts in sociology.

Question 6

Differential association theory explains deviance by

Accepted Answer

Differential association theory suggests that individuals learn criminal behavior through their interactions with others who engage in criminal behavior. This theory emphasizes how deviance is culturally transmitted.

Question 7

Conflict theory understands deviance as being _____, while symbolic interaction emphasizes _____.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory sees deviance as a result of social inequality, where those with less power and resources are more likely to engage in deviant behavior due to their limited opportunities. Symbolic interaction, on the other hand, emphasizes the role of learning in deviance, where individuals learn deviant behavior through interaction with others and through their social environment.

Question 8

The University of Chicago sociologist who defined deviance as a normal response to the social conditions rather than attributing it to individual character or personality is

Accepted Answer

The answer of The University of Chicago sociologist who defined...

Question 9

In their research on the American prison system, Bruce Western and Jeffrey Reiman note that the prison system functions as though it were designed to

Accepted Answer

Western and Reiman suggest that the prison system functions as a "revolving door" that returns prisoners to society, more likely to engage in criminal behavior than when they entered. The system may reinforce, rather than reduce, criminal behavior or "secondary deviance."

Question 10

A problem with differential association theory is that it

Accepted Answer

Differential association theory focuses on how individuals learn deviant behavior from their social environment, particularly through communication with deviant peers. However, it does not explain how individuals who are not members of deviant cultures become deviants. It also does not account for socialization as a possible influence and ignores the role of friends and family in the learning of deviance.

Question 11

Mr. Martin, a high school math teacher, notices that Bryan doesn't seem to pay attention in class and generally does poorly on assignments and tests.  He decides that Bryan must be lazy and relays his assessment to other teachers. Mr. Martin is engaging in

Accepted Answer

Mr. Martin is labeling Bryan as lazy based on his observations, which is a form of labeling within social control.

Question 12

Labeling theorists would explain recidivism among those released from prison as

Accepted Answer

Labeling theorists would explain recidivism among those released from prison as behavior caused by the difficulty in altering their classification as deviants. Once labeled as a criminal, individuals may find it difficult to reintegrate into mainstream society, leading to further deviant behavior and recidivism.

Question 13

Although _____  theory has difficulty explaining why upper-class individuals commit crime, differential association theory, a type of _____ theory, is able to do so by characterizing deviance as learned.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory traditionally focuses on the disparities between social classes and the power struggles that emerge from these disparities, which can explain why individuals from various social strata, including the upper class, might engage in criminal behavior. Differential association theory, rooted in symbolic interactionism, suggests that criminal behavior is learned through interactions with others. This theory can explain deviance across all social classes, including the upper class, by suggesting that individuals learn criminal behavior from the groups with which they associate.

Question 14

Social labeling theory emphasizes the importance of groups that are able to apply labels and impose sanctions. This aspect of social labeling theory makes it most associated with

Accepted Answer

Social labeling theory is most closely associated with symbolic interactionism because it emphasizes the importance of how labels are created and applied through social interactions between individuals and groups. The focus is on the meaning and interpretation of these labels within specific social contexts. Functionalism, social exchange theory, and feminist theory do not specifically emphasize the role of social labeling and sanctions in shaping social behavior.

Question 15

Which of these is not one of the factors that the symbolic interactionist theory uses to explain deviant behavior?

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionist theory focuses on the meanings people attribute to situations, how they respond to these meanings, and the interactions between different groups, rather than the strength of their attachment to social norms, which is more aligned with control theory.

Question 16

Researchers who espouse a symbolic interaction are more likely to do _____ research that focuses on _____.

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionism is a microsociological perspective that focuses on how individuals interact in social situations and the meanings they attribute to those interactions. Therefore, researchers who espouse this perspective are more likely to do microsociological research that focuses on the meanings attributed to situations. Options A, B, and D all involve macrosociological themes, which are not the primary focus of symbolic interactionism.

Question 17

W. I. Thomas explained deviance as

Accepted Answer

W. I. Thomas explained deviance as a response to social disorganization, focusing on how changes and disruptions in societal norms and structures can lead to deviant behavior.

Question 18

According to Sutherland's differential association theory, people become criminals when they

Accepted Answer

Sutherland's differential association theory states that people become criminals when they are more strongly socialized to break the law than to obey it. This means that individuals learn criminal behavior through their social interactions and associations with others who already engage in criminal activity. The theory does not attribute criminal behavior to genetics, lack of socially approved means, or lack of attachment to others.

Question 19

Symbolic interactionist theories of deviance originated in _____ and looked to _____ to explain deviance.

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionist theories of deviance originated from the Chicago School of sociology and looked to social conditions to explain deviance.

Question 20

According to _____, people behave as they do because of the meanings they give to different situations. For example, whether binge drinking is seen as normal behavior or deviant may depend on whether a student attends a "party school" or a college that emphasizes more scholarly activities.

Accepted Answer

This describes the principles of symbolic interaction theory, which emphasizes the importance of meanings, symbols, and interactions in shaping human behavior and social relationships.

Quiz 7: Deviance and Crime