Exam 1: Introduction

When looking at deviance from a social constructionist point of view,we are most interested why someone becomes deviant.

Under leader Stephen Harper,the Conservative Party of Canada held free votes in Parliament (as a proxy for societal reaction)on one "hot-button" issue of the day (same-sex marriage),but not another (the decriminalization of marijuana).Using at least three concepts from Chapter 1,describe how someone from the more subjective end of the objective-subjective continuum might explain this discrepancy.

Considering the issue of drug abuse,provide an example of each of the following forms of social control: (a)retroactive,formal control; (b)preventative,informal control; and (c)retroactive self-regulation.

One of the limitations of using harm as the defining characteristic of deviance is that perceptions of harm change over time.

The principle of equality,which is a fundamental Canadian value,influences the social construction of deviance at which of the following levels?

Which of the following groups of people would be considered "deviant",based on the concept of statistical rarity?

According to some deviance specialists,how have academic definitions of deviance changed in recent years?

Definitions of deviance include people that individuals do not like,as well as characteristics that society has defined as 'wrong'.

What view of normative violation is held by more recent objectivists?

The view of law claims that society's powerful define the criminal law on behalf of interest groups in society.

A question that some people raise about defining deviance on the basis of societal reaction is whether some people's reactions (e.g.the Prime Minister's)count more than other people's reactions (e.g.a homeless person's).

Which of the following examples reflects the limitations of using statistical rarity as the defining characteristic of deviance?

Imagine the following hypothetical news headline: "More than 70% of Canadians dislike people who drink cheap beer." Based on this report,we can say that drinking cheap beer is "deviant",according to the definition of deviance that emphasizes

What topics are more likely to be studied by researchers who lean toward the "objective" end of the objective-subjective continuum?

In the 19^th century women's groups attempted to reduce alcohol consumption, claiming it to be the "demon liquor".From the perspective of deviance specialists,these women were an example of moral entrepreneurs.

The alcohol industry itself has the power to influence government alcohol policies.

Many contemporary definitions of deviance combine both objective and subjective elements.

You see someone who is "obese" at the mall,and assume that she is unintelligent and is low in self-esteem,yet likely has a good sense of humour.Which step in the social typing process have you engaged in by making these assumptions?

One of the limitations of defining deviance on the basis of a negative societal reaction is that there are usually varying reactions to the same act,wherein different groups of people in society have different opinions on the same issue.

Defining deviance on the basis of statistical rarity is more common in everyday conversation than in scientific research.