Exam 1: Determining Deviance

Because most Canadians disapprove of heroin use, we can say that heroin use is "deviant", according to the definition of deviance that emphasizes negative societal reaction.

When considering the role of the nun's habit in contemporary religious orders, we see an example of

The ----------/--------------- dichotomy has traditionally served as the foundation for discussing definitions of deviance.

What are the limitations of definitions of deviance that emphasize statistical rarity?

Describe what moral entrepreneurs are. Provide one historical and one contemporary example of moral entrepreneurs, clearly illustrating how these are examples of moral entrepreneurs.

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.

Which view of law claims that criminal laws are created by the powerful to serve their own interests?

The text addresses four different "objective" definition of deviance, as well as one "subjective" definition. Select the ONE definition that you think best applies to why people who smoke are socially typed as deviant and made subject to social control in contemporary Canadian society. Be sure to provide that definition and explain why you think it is the best one in this particular instance.

Deviance specialists who focus on the more subjective aspects of deviance analyze the perceptions of and reactions to deviant acts, rather than the deviant acts themselves.

According to subjective definitions of deviance, the presence of specific observable characteristics tells us whether someone is deviant.

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

The fact that left-handedness is considered acceptable in Canadian society suggests that there are limitations to defining deviance on the basis of statistical rarity.

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.

Discuss the concepts of high-consensus deviance and low-consensus deviance as outlined by Thio. Describe a type of behaviour that would apply to each of these concepts.

Which of the following statements supports the "absolutist" view of normative violation?

List the five powerful groups that influence the creation of dominant moral codes in society. For each of those groups, explain how their power enables them to influence the social construction of deviance, and provide an example.

Under leader Stephen Harper, the Conservative Party of Canada held free votes in Parliament (as a proxy for societal reaction) on the two "hot-button" issues of the day-same sex marriage and the decriminalization of marijuana.

According to subjective definitions of deviance, serve as the foundation for determining who/what is "deviant".

Apply the three components of the social typing process to someone who is a member of a white supremacist group.