Question 1

Which theory of deviance tries to explain why individuals do not commit crime?

Accepted Answer

Social control theory attempts to explain why individuals do not engage in deviant behavior by examining the social bonds between individuals and society. It suggests that individuals who have strong bonds with society, such as relationships, social norms, and values, are less likely to commit crime.

Question 2

Which of the following statements best describes interactionist perspective(s)on deviance?

Accepted Answer

Interactionist perspectives on deviance suggest that deviance is relative and socially constructed. This means that what is considered deviant varies across different groups and societies, and is not based on universal biological norms. Therefore, option A is the best choice. Option B is incorrect because it suggests that deviance is consistent across groups and societies, which is not supported by interactionist perspectives. Option C is also incorrect because it implies that deviance is based on biological factors, which is not the focus of interactionist perspectives. Option D is incorrect because deviance has an impact on the social world, as it shapes social norms and responses to rule-breaking behavior.

Question 3

In high school,Janet rarely smoked or drank alcohol.In college,Janet met some friend who spent most of their downtime consuming large amounts of alcohol and other drugs.Soon,she did the same and did not know anyone who did not spend their time that way.Which theory best explains Janet's behavior,given this limited amount of information?

Accepted Answer

The theory of differential association suggests that individuals learn deviant behavior through interaction with others who engage in such behavior. In this case, Janet learned to consume alcohol and drugs from her friends who engaged in those activities.

Question 4

Which of the following examples is representative of a form of deviance from a sociological perspective?

Accepted Answer

Deviance refers to behaviors that violate social norms, and stealing is considered a violation of the law and social norms. Wearing a suit or a nice dress may be seen as conforming to social norms, while wearing a casual dress does not necessarily constitute deviance.

Question 5

__________ are individuals who seek to challenge either traditional goals or the accepted means of achieving those goals.

Accepted Answer

Rebels are individuals who challenge both traditional goals and the accepted means of achieving those goals, often seeking to create new systems or values.

Question 6

A nurse regulary brings a six pack of beer to work and consumes it over his shift,brushing his teeth to keep his breath clean.According to Goffman,what kind of behavior is the nurse engaging in?

Accepted Answer

The nurse is engaging in covering behavior by trying to conceal or manage the stigma associated with drinking on the job.

Question 7

Which of the following crimes best exemplifies white-collar crime?

Accepted Answer

Embezzlement is a typical example of a white-collar crime as it is a financial crime committed by professionals or individuals in positions of trust or authority, commonly in the workplace, for personal gain. The other options do not fit the definition of white-collar crime.

Question 8

How should a homeless person who decides to live in the woods be represented,according to Merton's typology of deviance?

Accepted Answer

According to Merton's typology of deviance, a homeless person who decides to live in the woods would be considered a retreatist. A retreatist rejects both the goals of society and the means to achieve those goals. They withdraw from society and live outside of social norms and expectations. This behavior can be a response to the inability to attain societal goals through conventional means, such as securing housing or employment.

Question 9

How has Howard Becker's research contributed to our understanding of deviance?

Accepted Answer

Howard Becker's research highlights the importance of deviant subcultures in the formation and maintenance of deviant identities. He argues that deviance is not an inherent trait or characteristic of an individual, but rather a label that society assigns to certain behaviors. Becker also distinguishes between primary and secondary deviance, showing how social reactions to deviant behavior can escalate its frequency and severity.

Question 10

Sampson and Laub's research on delinquent and nondelinquent youths in Boston found delinquency was greater when bonds with which social institutions were weakest?

Accepted Answer

Sampson and Laub's research emphasized the importance of strong family bonds in preventing delinquency. When these bonds are weak, the likelihood of delinquent behavior increases.

Question 11

John regularly gambles on the weekends,often finding himself spending more money than he is making.When asked about his gambling,John starts to relate how he always had problems resisting temptation,even when he was a kid.What kind of behavior is John engaging in?

Accepted Answer

John is engaging in retrospective interpretation, which means he is looking back at his past behavior to provide an explanation for his current behavior, in this case, his inability to resist gambling.

Question 12

Which of the following is true of William Chambliss' research on the Saints and the Roughnecks?

Accepted Answer

Chambliss found that although the Saints committed somewhat higher levels of deviance than the Roughnecks, the Roughnecks were more likely to be caught by law enforcement than the Saints. This was due to factors such as the Saints having a better reputation in the community and being more skilled at upward mobility.

Question 13

Which theorist is most associated with primary and secondary deviance?

Accepted Answer

Edwin Lemert is the theorist most associated with primary and secondary deviance. He argued that primary deviance is a normative behavior that is not normally stigmatized or sanctioned, whereas secondary deviance is the social response to the primary deviance, which can lead to the person being labeled as deviant and committing further deviant acts.

Question 14

Most college students represent __________ in Merton's typology of deviance.

Accepted Answer

Most college students represent conformists in Merton's typology of deviance because they accept both the cultural goals of success and the institutional means of achieving them, which typically involves obtaining a higher education.

Question 15

Scholars contend that __________ and __________ are two factors that affect the likelihood of committing a crime?

Accepted Answer

Certainty and severity of punishment are two factors that affect the likelihood of committing a crime, according to scholars. Certainty refers to the probability of getting caught and punished, while severity refers to the harshness of the punishment. Studies have shown that a higher certainty and severity of punishment serves as a deterrent for potential offenders.

Question 16

According to labeling theory,a __________ occurs the first time someone does something that is defined as deviant.

Accepted Answer

Labeling theory suggests that deviance is not inherent in an act or behavior but rather a result of societal reaction to that behavior. The first time someone engages in behavior that is defined as deviant, it is considered a primary act of deviance. It is only after the individual is labeled as deviant and subsequently treated as such by society that they may engage in secondary acts of deviance as a way to cope with their new societal status. Taboos and folkway violations are specific types of deviant behavior, but do not relate specifically to the labeling process.

Question 17

Which of the following examples typifies strain,according to new interpretations of strain theory?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following examples typifies strain,according...

Question 18

Murder would most likely be considered the breaking of a __________;picking your nose in public would be breaking a __________.

Accepted Answer

Murder is a violation of a more, which is a more serious norm that is considered necessary for the welfare and survival of a society. Picking your nose in public is a violation of a folkway, which is a less serious norm that is based on customs and traditions.

Question 19

Match the term to its definition by filling in the letter or letters before the term in the appropriate blank.
  ____ A component of social control theory referring to emotional bonds with other people in society.
____ People who share the goals of society with conformists but employ illegitimate means to obtain those goals.
____ Component of social control theory referring to people's respect for law and order in society.
____ Component of social control theory referring to an individual's desire to obtain societal goals through legitimate means.
____ People who try to obtain the goals of society through accepted means.
____ Keeping a known stigma from creating tensions in interactions by downplaying it.
____ Any behavior that departs from accepted practices in a society or group.
____ Theory that deviance is learned through interaction with others.
____ Less-serious rules of behavior in a group or society.
____ The process by which individuals index thoughts,feelings,and behaviors from their own perspective.
____ Component of social control theory referring to people's participation in acceptable social activities such as clubs,churches and other organizations.
____ Theory that argues that deviance is a consequence of a social process in which a negative characteristic becomes an element of an individual's identity.
____ Violations of behavior prescribed through mores.
____ Widely held values and beliefs in a society.
____ People labeled as deviants who accept the deviant labels.
____ Attempts to hide an undisclosed stigma by concealing information about it.
____ The process by which individuals think about a behavior within its social context and give meaning to it.
____ Reinterpretations of past behaviors in light of the person's new role as a deviant.
____ The initial deviant act that causes other people to label the individual a deviant.
____ When individuals seek to challenge either the traditional goals or the accepted means of achieving those goals.
____ Someone who approves of the ways people should live their lives but gives up trying to obtain societal goals.
____ Additional deviant acts that support the initial deviant label.
____ Theory that deviance results when individuals' bonds with conventional society are weakened in some way.
____ Crimes typically associated with middle- and upper-class individuals,such as embezzlement,cheating,and laundering money.
____ An attribute that is deeply discrediting.
____ Theory that argues that people choose to commit deviance as a natural outcome of social conditions in which socially acceptable goals cannot be obtained through legitimate means.
____ The state's attempts to maintain social order through police and courts and other representatives of the state.
____ A sense of "normlessness," where there is little consensus about what is right and wrong.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Match the term to its definition by...

Question 20

According to Edwin Lemert,when is society involved in the deviance process?

Accepted Answer

According to Edwin Lemert's concept of labeling theory, society becomes involved in the deviance process during secondary deviance, when a person is labeled as deviant. This label can lead to further deviant behavior and stigmatization, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. Society's response to a person's deviant behavior can impact their future actions and shape their identity.

Quiz 7: The Social Psychology of Deviance