Question 1

Which of the following is TRUE of deviance?

Accepted Answer

Deviance is a complex social construct that varies across different cultures and contexts. What is considered deviant in one society or situation may be seen as normal or even commendable in another. This variability means that in certain instances, acts of deviance can be understood or rationalized based on the specific circumstances, norms, and values of a society.

Question 2

As ______ point out, deviance can be useful for society by setting examples of unacceptable behavior, leading to guidelines of behavior necessary to maintain order.

Accepted Answer

Structural-functionalists argue that deviance plays a vital role in society by reinforcing norms and values, and by delineating acceptable behavior, thus contributing to social order and stability.

Question 3

Deviance that violates the law is referred to as ______.

Accepted Answer

Crime is the correct answer because it specifically refers to behaviors that violate formalized laws, distinguishing it from other forms of deviance that may not be illegal.

Question 4

Which of the following is considered a consensus crime?

Accepted Answer

Consensus crimes are those where there's widespread agreement in society that the act is morally wrong and should be punished. Pre-meditated murder falls into this category as it is universally considered a severe crime across different cultures and legal systems.

Question 5

Emily is in high school. Her best friend recently moved to a different state, so Emily started hanging out with a new group of friends. Some of her new friends experiment with illicit drugs after school. On repeated occasions, the group tries to convince Emily to join them. She finally decides to try what they are trying because she wants to fit in. Emily's deviance is best described by which of the following theories?

Accepted Answer

Differential association theory explains deviance as a learned behavior that results from continuous exposure to others who violate norms and laws. In Emily's case, her decision to experiment with drugs after being influenced by her new friends aligns with this theory, as she learns and adopts behaviors from her peer group.

Question 6

According to differential association theory, the possibility of becoming deviant depends on four factors: the duration of time spent with the group, the intensity of the interaction, the frequency of interaction, and ______.

Accepted Answer

Differential association theory suggests that deviance is learned through interactions with others; the priority of the group in one's friendship network influences the impact of those interactions on the individual's behavior.

Question 7

When Michael steals a car during his gang's initiation, he gets arrested. When he's released from prison, he tries to turn his life around and get a job, but employers don't want to hire him because of his reputation and criminal record. Low on cash, he decides to go back to the gang and sell drugs to make ends meet. This is an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

Secondary deviance occurs when an individual's actions are a response to the reactions of society to their initial deviance. In this case, Michael's return to crime is a response to societal rejection and the difficulties he faces in finding employment due to his criminal record.

Question 8

A belief that becomes a reality in part because of the prediction is referred to as a ______ prophecy.

Accepted Answer

A self-fulfilling prophecy is a belief or expectation that influences behavior in a way that causes the belief to become true.

Question 9

James is eight. His siblings call him a delinquent because he's started getting in trouble at school. His mother often tells him how much he looks like his father, who is serving a ten year sentence. As a result, he views himself as a "bad kid" who will end up in prison like his father. Which of the following best describes this scenario?

Accepted Answer

This scenario is an example of a self-fulfilling prophecy, where James starts to identify with the negative label given to him and behaves in ways that confirm that label, potentially leading him to fulfill the prediction of becoming like his father.

Question 10

To study why some women decide to kill their abusive husbands, Robin plans to determine how these women weigh the potential costs and benefits of their crimes. Robin's approach aligns with which of the following theories?

Accepted Answer

Robin's approach aligns with rational choice theory, which suggests that individuals make decisions based on a rational calculation of the costs and benefits of different actions. In this case, Robin is studying how women decide to kill their abusive husbands by weighing the potential costs and benefits of their crimes.

Question 11

What is social control?

Accepted Answer

Social control refers to the mechanisms, strategies, and institutions society uses to encourage conformity to norms and rules, thus explaining why people obey norms.

Question 12

The roots of social control theory can be traced back to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Émile Durkheim's work, especially his study on suicide, is foundational to social control theory. Durkheim's exploration of how societal integration and regulation impact individual behaviors laid the groundwork for understanding how social structures control or influence individual actions, a key aspect of social control theory.

Question 13

Which of the following is an informal external control?

Accepted Answer

Ridicule from family members is an example of an informal external control because it involves social pressures and norms from personal relationships rather than formal legal or institutional mechanisms.

Question 14

What is the term for the state of normlessness that occurs when rules for behavior in society break down under extreme stress from rapid social change or conflict?

Accepted Answer

Anomie is a term used in sociology to describe a state of normlessness, where societal norms break down due to rapid social change, conflict, or other stressors, leading to a lack of clear social standards and values.

Question 15

Which of the following sociologists first described the concept of anomie?

Accepted Answer

Émile Durkheim first described the concept of anomie in his studies of social cohesion and the breakdown of social norms.

Question 16

Chelsea was appalled that her friends would pursue conventional jobs after high school. Instead, she joined a militant anti-fascist group. According to strain theory, Chelsea's behavior results from which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Chelsea's decision to join a militant anti-fascist group instead of pursuing a conventional job path, as her friends did, aligns with rebellion. Rebellion, according to strain theory, involves rejecting both societal goals and the means to achieve them, often replacing them with alternative goals and methods. This is evident in Chelsea's choice to actively oppose what she perceives as fascist elements in society through militant involvement, diverging from the conventional societal expectations of career and lifestyle.

Question 17

Susan dreamed of opening her own restaurant but couldn't afford the startup costs. She decided to steal from her grandmother's estate in order to finance her business. Though she felt some hesitation, Susan decided that the possibility of her success justified her actions. According to strain theory, Susan's behavior results from which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Strain theory suggests that individuals may engage in deviant behavior when they are unable to achieve societal goals through legitimate means. In Susan's case, her decision to steal in order to finance her dream of opening a restaurant, despite societal norms against theft, is an example of innovation. This is because she adopts an unconventional means to achieve a socially approved goal (owning a business).

Question 18

Carlos originally hoped to graduate from college so that he could become a journalist. However, because he couldn't earn enough money to afford tuition, he decided that a college degree and a future career in journalism was no longer important. According to strain theory, Carlos's behavior results from which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Retreatism, according to strain theory, occurs when an individual rejects both the cultural goals and the institutional means of achieving them, as Carlos does by abandoning his goal of a college degree and a career in journalism due to financial constraints.

Question 19

Which of the following perspectives views deviance as the result of social inequality or of the struggle among groups for power?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory views deviance as the result of social inequality or of the struggle among groups for power.

Question 20

Elizabeth is studying the way in which mass incarceration benefits affluent Americans. Her research reflects which of the following perspectives?

Accepted Answer

Elizabeth's research reflects conflict theory, which focuses on how societal structures and inequalities benefit some groups at the expense of others, including how the criminal justice system may disproportionately impact certain populations while benefiting others.

Quiz 6: Deviance and Social Control: Sickos, Weirdos, and Folks Like Us