Exam 7: Deviance

A major criticism of Merton's theory is his acceptance of the U.S. success ethic.

Discuss the argument that the definition of deviance is relative.

The tendency for secondary deviance is stronger when the labeling is accompanied by a sense of injustice.

A strength of the labeling theory is

_____ argue that punishment of rule breakers says to the masses that the norms that have been violated are legitimate.

Radical nonintervention claims that traditional delinquency policy has proscribed youthful behavior beyond what is required for a smooth-running society.

From the conflict perspective, such acts as CIA intervention in the domestic affairs of other nations or imperialism are examples of ________.

System blamers cite failures of schools and the penal system as causes of ________.

According to ________, deviance gives the nondeviants a sense of solidarity by reasserting the importance of the rule being violated.

________ proposed that people turn to deviance because they are denied access to the approved means of achieving the goals of society.

One result of the person blame approach is that, while troublesome individuals are controlled in a publicly acceptable manner, blame is directed away from the system.

Victim blamers contend that racial minorities are ________, have high rates of illegitimacy, and a high proportion of transient males, largely because their families have matriarchal structures.

Robert Merton's theory regards the social structure as fundamental to the origins of deviance.

Evidence suggests that the parole system is biased against people of color and those of low socioeconomic status.

________ is the episode of rule breaking that happens prior to the deviant being labeled.

Identify three dangers of the system-blame orientation.

William Ryan is the sociologist who proposed a theory of differential association.

The ________ view asserts that a unique (and deviant) morality and set of norms make a person turn to criminal activities in order to achieve success.

The "blaming the victim" approach to deviance

Robert Merton's analysis explains all types of deviant behavior.