Question 1

In some subcultures or situations, deviant behavior is encouraged and praised, as when people egg each other on to commit acts of vandalism.

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Question 2

According to Merton, an imbalance, or disjunction, between cultural goals and structurally available means can actually compel the individual into deviant behavior. Thus, someone who has legal way to earn a living may turn to illegal ways.

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Question 3

Sutherland's differential association theory argues that deviant behavior is learned.

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Question 4

U.S. adults are more likely to approve of the use of medically prescribed marijuana than they are likely to approve of marijuana for recreational use, indicating that, as sociologists claim, definitions of deviance depend on social context.

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Question 5

According to labeling theory, labels are easy to change, and an individual, once labeled as deviant, will be able to easily shed that label by changing his or her behavior.

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Question 6

Crime is an example of formal deviance.

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Question 7

Stigmatizing some people

Accepted Answer

Stigmatizing some people serves to reinforce "normalness" in others by creating a sense of what is considered socially acceptable or not. This can lead to exclusion and discrimination against those who are stigmatized, ultimately reinforcing societal norms and morals.

Question 8

Which of the following types of crimes is the least likely to be rigorously addressed by the criminal justice system, perhaps because it violates a law but has no complainant?

Accepted Answer

Victimless crimes, such as drug use or prostitution, are often not reported by anyone and therefore have no complainant. These crimes are also often considered low priority by law enforcement and may not be rigorously addressed by the criminal justice system.

Question 9

Deviance is an inherent quality of behavior-the deviance lies in the act itself.

Accepted Answer

Deviance is not an inherent quality of behavior, but rather a social construct that is defined by the norms and values of a particular society.

Question 10

_____ is an attribute that is socially devalued and discredited.

Accepted Answer

Social stigma refers to an attribute that is socially devalued and discredited. Achieved status refers to a position that is attained through an individual's own efforts, while atypicality and nonconformism refer to behaviors or characteristics that deviate from social norms but may not necessarily be stigmatized. Therefore, the best answer is B.

Question 11

Conflict theorists argue that the law is generally neutral and fair in its form and implementation, favoring no single group's particular interests.

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Question 12

Officer Matthews sees two cars speed by. According to the meter, the drivers were each going ten miles per hour over the speed limit. One driver has light-colored skin, and the other has dark-colored skin. Officer Matthews pulls over the darker-skinned driver based his hunch that the driver must be up to no good despite there being no objective differences other than skin color. Matthews is using

Accepted Answer

Officer Matthews is making a decision solely based on the driver's skin color, which is an example of racial profiling. This goes against the principle of neutral policing, which requires law enforcement officers to make objective decisions based on observable behaviors and evidence, rather than personal biases or stereotypes.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about deviance is false?

Accepted Answer

Most deviant actions are not always universally considered as deviant. What is considered deviant varies with time, society, and culture.

Question 14

Although the marriage of young girls to markedly older men used to be acceptable, it is now, for the most part, no longer accepted in Western nations, illustrating that previously accepted behaviors can come to be viewed as deviant.

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Question 15

Once a behavior has been defined as deviant, it cannot revert back to acceptability and will always be considered deviant.

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Question 16

Functionalists suggest that deviance is functional because it creates social cohesion.

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Question 17

Which of the following is true regarding violent crime?

Accepted Answer

According to data from the FBI, violent crime rates have been decreasing since the 1990s. Additionally, violent crime is not random in terms of who is victimized, as certain populations (such as young people and individuals in urban areas) are more likely to be victims of violent crime.

Question 18

From the perspective of the social control theory of deviance, most people internalize social norms because they care what other people think of them.

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Question 19

Labeling some groups of people as deviant may serve as a form of social control when the label itself carries stigma.

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Question 20

A soldier who shoots and kills an enemy combatant in battle is typically not considered deviant. An individual who shoots and kills a neighbor for playing loud music is typically considered deviant. This illustrates the point that

Accepted Answer

The behavior of killing someone is not inherently deviant, but whether or not it is considered deviant depends on the context in which it occurs. In the case of a soldier killing an enemy combatant in battle, it is considered a necessary part of their job and not deviant. However, if someone kills their neighbor for playing loud music, it is not considered a necessary action and is therefore deviant. This illustrates that deviance is not an inherent quality of behavior, but depends on social context and cultural norms.

Quiz 7: Deviance and Crime