Deck 1: On the Sociology of Deviance

Question 1

Human communities maintain boundaries for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

A) to retain a given pattern of consistent activity and behavior.
B) to make possible a degree of stability.
C) to retain cultural integrity.
D) to allow freedom of expression.

Answer 1

to allow freedom of expression.

Question 2

Communities solve the problem of instructing members about its boundaries by such practices as

A) political elections.
B) criminal trials.
C) family gatherings.
D) holiday celebrations.

Answer 2

criminal trials.

Question 3

The only "material" or resource found in society for making boundaries is

A) networks of social interaction.
B) geographical landmarks.
C) records and documents.
D) tools and technology.

Answer 3

networks of social interaction.

Question 4

The fact that we no longer punish deviants in public is connected with the

A) sympathy and acceptance of deviants.
B) new technologies for punishment.
C) large increase in number of deviants.
D) emergence of newspapers, radio and TV.

Question 5

Boundaries are not altogether fixed and constant, for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

A) over time there are changes in group structure and leadership.
B) over time the level of deviance decreases to low levels.
C) the new generation may challenge the old guard.
D) there may be changes in the surrounding environment.

Question 6

Erikson makes the unexpected observation that many of the institutions designed to discourage deviant behavior may in fact

A) serve to lower or even eliminate deviance.
B) serve to perpetuate or even increase deviance
C) challenge community standards and norms.
D) result in the emergence of new agents of control.

Question 7

Commitment ceremonies have all of the following features EXCEPT

A) represent a more or less permanent change in a person's status as deviant.
B) involve a formal stage of confrontation between society and the deviant.
C) mark a temporary change in a person's status as deviant.
D) represent an announcement about the nature and limits of deviance.

Question 8

Erikson suggests that the self-fulfilling prophecy as applied to the study of deviance means that

A) society views self-fulfillment as the only option for the ex-deviant to embrace conformity and return to society.
B) society's view that "once deviant, always deviant" creates a situation that limits the opportunities for the ex-deviant to conform.
C) predictions about the future of deviance are likely to be incorrect.
D) persons of lower economic status will have greater likelihood of committing deviance.

Question 9

Describe the function(s) of boundary maintaining for a community. How are boundaries maintained and why is this important for a social group? What if any is the downside to this social process?

Question 10

Discuss the causes and consequences of the fact that community boundaries are not fixed but over time do shift and change. Does this suggest that there may be some positive functions to deviance? Explain, giving examples.

Question 11

Explain and provide two examples of how institutions designed to discourage deviant behavior operate in ways to perpetuate it.