Deck 23: Social Control

Question 1

Jennifer is attending a business luncheon with several corporate executives.At one point during the meal,she reaches in front of another executive for a saltshaker and hits the executive's arm as he is about to put a spoonful of soup in his mouth.The soup spills on his shirt,and he glares at Jennifer.The glare is an example of a(n)

A)norm.
B)folkway.
C)formal sanction.
D)informal sanction.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Control theory reminds us that while the media may focus on crime and disorder,most members of most societies conform to and obey basic norms.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Obedience refers to

A)going along with one's peers,who have no special right to direct one's behavior.
B)compliance with higher authorities in a hierarchical structure.
C)penalties and rewards for conduct concerning a social norm.
D)going along with one's peers,who have no special right to direct that one's behavior,and compliance with higher authorities in a hierarchical structure.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Sanctions are defined as

A)penalties and rewards for conduct concerning a social norm.
B)justifications for deviant behavior.
C)rules made by a government.
D)a loss of direction when the social control of individual behavior has become ineffective.

Question 5

Social control carried out casually by people through such means as laughter,smiles,and ridicule is known as

A)neutralization.
B)conformity.
C)informal social control.
D)formal social control.

Question 6

Which of the following theories offers a view of conformity and deviance that suggests that our connection to members of society leads us to conform systematically to society's norms?

A)anomie theory of deviance
B)labeling theory
C)control theory
D)theory of differential association

Question 7

Which sociological perspective emphasizes how societies literally could not operate if massive numbers of people defied standards of appropriate conduct?

A)functionalist perspective
B)conflict perspective
C)interactionist perspective
D)labeling perspective

Question 8

Clyde is imprisoned for "tagging," or "visual terrorism." The arrest is an example of a(n)

A)formal sanction.
B)value.
C)informal sanction.
D)norm.

Question 9

Which of the following terms refers to going along with one's peers,with peers defined as individuals of a person's own status who have no special right to direct that person's behavior?

A)labeling
B)conformity
C)deviance
D)obedience

Question 10

What type of informal social control is supported by 59 percent of pediatricians in spite of the risk of harmful effects to recipients?

A)capital punishment
B)institutionalization
C)corporal punishment
D)time-outs

Question 11

The term social control refers to

A)justifications for deviant behavior.
B)penalties and rewards for conduct concerning a social norm.
C)techniques and strategies for preventing deviant human behavior in any society.
D)behavior that violates the norms of a group.

Question 12

Which sociological perspective would most likely be concerned with the association between the use of surveillance techniques as a means of social control and the power of an authoritarian government?

A)functionalist perspective
B)conflict perspective
C)interactionist perspective
D)feminist perspective

Question 13

One of the major themes revealed from Cop in the Hood: My Year Policing Baltimore's Eastern District was that

A)there is a clear line separating illegal activities and deviant behavior.
B)crime is functional in its subculture and helps to provide stability.
C)patrolling confirmed many of the stereotypes held about the neighborhood.
D)gang-related thefts was the neighborhood's major preoccupation.

Question 14

Control theory states that we

A)are bonded to members of our subculture,and if they engage in deviant behavior,we use them as role models and act in the same manner.
B)are bonded to our family members,friends,and peers in a way that leads us to follow the mores and folkways of our society.
C)are "convinced" to act in a law-abiding manner because of the "control" that law enforcement agencies have over our lives.
D)act in a conforming manner because of self-control.

Question 15

A college student is caught cheating on an exam and is brought before a college-wide disciplinary committee,which decides to expel the student from the school.The committee's action is an example of

A)formal social control.
B)informal social control.
C)neutralization.
D)enforcement of regulatory law.

Question 16

According to a study by Stanley Milgram,individuals will

A)conform to the attitudes and behaviors of their peers even if such attitudes and behaviors are racist.
B)obey the commands of people viewed as legitimate authority figures,even if the behavior may harm another individual.
C)in most instances disobey the commands of people viewed as legitimate authority figures if the behavior may harm another individual.
D)not conform to the attitudes and behavior of their peers if racism is expected.

Question 17

Historically,legal measures aimed at blocking discrimination based on race,religion,gender,age,or sexual orientation have been difficult to implement because

A)many people tacitly encourage such violations.
B)minorities do not seek legal protection.
C)any type of law is difficult to pass and enforce.
D)All of these answers are correct.

Question 18

An individual being imprisoned for murder is an example of a(n)

A)formal sanction.
B)value.
C)informal sanction.
D)norm.

Question 19

What was the motivation behind Stanley Milgram's experimental study of obedience?

A)to better understand German involvement in the annihilation of Jews in World War II
B)to better understand the deterrence factor of the death penalty
C)self-esteem issues
D)a federal government grant

Question 20

Social control carried out by authorized agents-such as police officers,judges,school administrators,and employers-is called

A)neutralization.
B)conformity.
C)informal social control.
D)formal social control.

Question 21

Although medical marijuana is legal in the state of California,you can still be prosecuted for possession of the drug under federal law.

Question 22

Discuss the various components of social control.Identify and describe how sanctions may be used to control the expectations of society regarding people's actions and behaviors.

Question 23

Smiles,laughter,and a raised eyebrow are all examples of informal social controls.

Question 24

Describe the similarities in and differences between conformity and obedience,according to Stanley Milgram.Give examples to support both concepts.

Question 25

How is binge drinking both a deviance and a conformity?

Question 26

The death penalty is active in all fifty states.