Question 1

Sociologists who believe we help to produce our own orientations to life by joining specific groups is MOST aligned with which sociological perspective?
A)functional
B)conflict
C)symbolic interactionist
D)neo-conflict

Accepted Answer

This perspective is known as symbolic interactionism, which emphasizes how our individual interactions and experiences with others shape our perspectives and behaviors. Joining specific groups can introduce us to new ideas and beliefs, which can then become part of our personal orientations to life.

Question 2

Napoleon Chagnon's visit to the Yanomamö tribe,where he observed tribe members appearing naked in public,using hallucinogenic drugs,and letting mucus hang from their noses,is a good example of ________.
A)nonconforming behavior
B)the need for social sanctions
C)the cultural relativity of deviance
D)the need for absolute standards in defining deviance

Accepted Answer

Chagnon's observation of the Yanomamö tribe demonstrates the cultural relativity of deviance, as behaviors that may be considered deviant in one culture may not be considered deviant in another. Chagnon's visit also highlights the importance of understanding the cultural context when defining and examining deviant behavior.

Question 3

A group's usual and customary social arrangements,on which its members depend and on which they base their lives,is called ________.
A)social control
B)sanction
C)social order
D)social guideline

Accepted Answer

The definition provided best fits the concept of "social order," which encompasses the usual and customary arrangements of a group or society upon which its members base their lives. Social control refers to the methods a society uses to regulate behavior and maintain order, while sanctions are the rewards or punishments used to enforce social norms. Social guidelines may refer to individual suggestions or advice but do not capture the larger, collective nature of social arrangements.

Question 4

What is a group's formal and informal means of enforcing norms called?
A)social solidarity
B)the social imperative
C)social control
D)social bond

Accepted Answer

The formal and informal means of enforcing norms within a group is called social control. This can be achieved through various methods such as rewards or punishments, peer pressure, and ostracism. Social control helps to maintain order and stability within a group, ensuring that members adhere to shared norms and values.

Question 5

Suicide bombers in Iraq are accorded high praise by those who oppose an American presence in the Middle East and are considered heroic warriors. Such honor and praise is an example of a ________.
A)positive sanction
B)negative sanction
C)degradation ceremony
D)shaming

Accepted Answer

A positive sanction is a reward or expression of approval given to someone for their actions or behavior. In this case, the suicide bombers are receiving praise and honor for their actions, which are considered heroic by those who oppose the American presence in the Middle East.

Question 6

According to control theory,when are inner controls MOST effective in deterring deviant behavior?
A)When we fear punishment from authorities such as parents or the court system.
B)In the presence of strong attachments,commitments,and involvement with other members of society.
C)When they are applied to members of the middle or upper classes.
D)In situations where there is a strong police presence.

Accepted Answer

Inner controls are most effective in deterring deviant behavior when individuals have strong attachments, commitments, and involvement with other members of society. This is because individuals who have a stake in conformity are less likely to engage in deviant behavior as they fear jeopardizing their relationship with others or damaging their reputation. Fear of punishment is an external control, which can be effective but only to a certain extent. Strong police presence can deter crime, but it does not address the root cause of deviant behavior. The social bonds theory, which is a component of control theory, argues that relationships and attachments to conventional others are crucial in socializing individuals to conform to societal norms and values.

Question 7

Which of the following theories of deviance is LEAST associated with sociobiology?
A)intelligence theory: low intelligence leads to deviant and criminal behavior
B)social learning theory: we learn deviance from our peers
C)XYY" theory: the extra Y chromosome in males causes criminal behavior
D)body type theory: people with muscular bodies are prone to be criminals

Accepted Answer

Social learning theory focuses on the influence of the environment and social interactions on behavior, rather than biological or genetic factors, making it least associated with sociobiology.

Question 8

In which of the following settings would shaming be LEAST effective?
A)a family
B)a close knit society,such as the Amish
C)a small religious cult
D)a large inner-city neighborhood

Accepted Answer

Shaming is least effective in large inner-city neighborhoods because there is a lack of social cohesion and anonymity within the community. Shame requires a certain amount of social pressure and accountability, which may not exist in a large and diverse urban area. Additionally, shaming may exacerbate existing tensions and conflicts in such a setting, leading to further social breakdown rather than resolution.

Question 9

The significance of names or reputations given to people when they engage in certain types of behavior is the focus of ________ theory.
A)strain
B)control
C)labeling
D)differential association

Accepted Answer

Labeling theory focuses on the significance of names or reputations given to individuals who engage in certain types of behavior. It suggests that societal reactions to these behaviors can create a self-fulfilling prophecy where individuals continue to engage in deviant behavior because they have been labeled as such.

Question 10

Based on differential association theory,what is the MOST likely background shared by juvenile delinquents?
A)They come from regions populated by large numbers of minorities.
B)They are concentrated in urban areas with a population over 25,000.
C)They are common in families living in poverty.
D)They are from families that have a history of being involved in crime.

Accepted Answer

Differential association theory suggests that delinquent behavior is learned through interactions with others who engage in deviant behavior, particularly within the family. Therefore, those who come from families with a history of being involved in crime are most likely to become juvenile delinquents. Poverty and membership in a minority group are also factors that may increase the likelihood of delinquent behavior, but they are not as strongly associated with delinquency as family background. The size of the population in the area and urbanization may also be relevant, but they are not as significant as the other factors mentioned.

Question 11

Erving Goffman used the term ________ to refer to characteristics that discredit people.
A)master status
B)role
C)stigma
D)sanction

Accepted Answer

Erving Goffman used the term stigma to refer to characteristics that discredit people. Master status refers to the most important status a person holds, role refers to the expected behavior of a person in a certain status, and sanction refers to an action taken to enforce a norm.

Question 12

Differential association theory was developed by sociologist ________.
A)Robert K. Merton
B)Frank Tannenbaum
C)Walter Reckless
D)Edwin Sutherland

Accepted Answer

Differential association theory was developed by Edwin Sutherland.

Question 13

The sociologist responsible for developing one of the first control theories that addressed the inner controls of the individual and outer controls of society was ________.
A)Travis Hirschi
B)Jackson Toby
C)Walter Reckless
D)F) Ivan Nye

Accepted Answer

Walter Reckless developed the containment theory, which posits that an individual's inner containment (e.g. self-concept and self-control) can prevent them from becoming delinquent, while outer containment (e.g. societal norms and values) can also act as a deterrent. Travis Hirschi developed social bond theory, which suggests that an individual's bonds to society (e.g. attachment to others, commitment to social norms) can prevent delinquency. Jackson Toby developed the concept of stake in conformity, which suggests that an individual's investment in conventional society (e.g. education, career, relationships) can discourage delinquency. F. Ivan Nye developed the theory of differential opportunity, which suggests that the availability of legitimate and illegitimate opportunities can influence delinquent behavior.

Question 14

Violations of norms and rules that are written into law are officially called ________.
A)ethics
B)values
C)folkways
D)crimes

Accepted Answer

Violations of norms and rules that are written into law are considered crimes.

Question 15

Why did the "XYY" chromosome theory fall out of favor as an explanation for criminal behavior?
A)It was discovered there are no longer any XYY chromosome configurations among men.
B)Research did not support the theory.
C)The work of the theorist who proposed the theory was plagiarized.
D)The theory only explains deviant and criminal behavior among females.

Accepted Answer

Research did not support the theory, leading to it falling out of favor as an explanation for criminal behavior.

Question 16

The relativity of deviance is MOST aligned with which sociological perspective?
A)structural functionalism
B)symbolic interactionism
C)the conflict perspective
D)the neo-conflict perspective

Accepted Answer

The relativity of deviance is a central concept in symbolic interactionism, which emphasizes that notions of what is considered deviant or acceptable vary across time and place and are shaped by social interactions, cultural meanings, and personal experiences. This perspective highlights the importance of examining how individuals define and respond to deviant behavior, rather than assuming that there is an objective, universal standard of deviance.

Question 17

The concept of the relativity of deviance is BEST illustrated by which of the following statements?
A)It is not the act itself,but the reaction of others to the act that makes it deviant.
B)The nature of one's behavior is the most important aspect in determining deviance.
C)Deviance is most related to functionalism because it creates a dysfunction for society.
D)Deviance is analogous to mental illness.

Accepted Answer

The concept of relativity of deviance suggests that an act in itself is not inherently deviant, but it is the reaction of society or others to the act that makes it deviant. This idea is best illustrated in statement A.

Question 18

The theory of behavior in which people who associate with some groups learn an "excess of definitions" of deviance,increasing the likelihood that they will become deviant is ________.
A)conflict theory
B)social control theory
C)strain theory
D)differential association theory

Accepted Answer

The theory described in the statement is Differential Association Theory. This theory suggests that individuals learn deviant behavior through their social interactions and the people with whom they associate. As they are exposed to more definitions of deviance, they have a greater likelihood of becoming deviant themselves.

Question 19

Inner and outer controls that work against our tendencies to deviate is known as what theory?
A)rationalization theory
B)judgment theory
C)self-control theory
D)control theory

Accepted Answer

Control theory suggests that inner (personal) and outer (social) controls work against our tendencies to deviate, maintaining conformity and preventing deviant behaviors.

Question 20

The two disciplines that would be MOST concerned with addressing qualities within the individual to explain deviant behavior are ________ and ________.
A)anthropology; sociology
B)sociology,psychology
C)sociobiology; psychology
D)criminology; political science

Accepted Answer

Sociobiology and psychology focus on individual traits and biological factors that may explain deviant behavior.

Quiz 6: Deviance and Social Control

Sociologists who believe we help to produce our own orientations to life by joining specific groups is MOST aligned with which sociological perspective?

Napoleon Chagnon's visit to the Yanomamö tribe,where he observed tribe members appearing naked in public,using hallucinogenic drugs,and letting mucus hang from their noses,is a good example of ________.

A group's usual and customary social arrangements,on which its members depend and on which they base their lives,is called ________.

What is a group's formal and informal means of enforcing norms called?

Suicide bombers in Iraq are accorded high praise by those who oppose an American presence in the Middle East and are considered heroic warriors. Such honor and praise is an example of a ________.

According to control theory,when are inner controls MOST effective in deterring deviant behavior?

Which of the following theories of deviance is LEAST associated with sociobiology?

In which of the following settings would shaming be LEAST effective?

The significance of names or reputations given to people when they engage in certain types of behavior is the focus of ________ theory.

Based on differential association theory,what is the MOST likely background shared by juvenile delinquents?

Erving Goffman used the term ________ to refer to characteristics that discredit people.

Differential association theory was developed by sociologist ________.

The sociologist responsible for developing one of the first control theories that addressed the inner controls of the individual and outer controls of society was ________.

Violations of norms and rules that are written into law are officially called ________.

Why did the "XYY" chromosome theory fall out of favor as an explanation for criminal behavior?

The relativity of deviance is MOST aligned with which sociological perspective?

The concept of the relativity of deviance is BEST illustrated by which of the following statements?

The theory of behavior in which people who associate with some groups learn an "excess of definitions" of deviance,increasing the likelihood that they will become deviant is ________.

Inner and outer controls that work against our tendencies to deviate is known as what theory?

The two disciplines that would be MOST concerned with addressing qualities within the individual to explain deviant behavior are and .