Deck 7: Deviance and Crime

Question 1

Corey just doesn't care. He doesn't care about his lousy, minimum wage job; he doesn't care that he can barely survive; he doesn't care about all of the expectations others have for them or the demands they put on him; and he doesn't care that he was born (alone) , he will live (alone) , and he will die (alone) and none of it means a thing. Durkheim would suggest that Corey is living in a state of

A) dysfunction.
B) culture conflict.
C) anomie.
D) egoism.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Define white-collar crime and corporate crime and give an example of each. Discuss the costs of white-collar and corporate crime to society and the difficulties in identifying and prosecuting these types of crimes.

Answer 2

White-collar crime refers to non-violent, financially motivated crimes typically committed by business professionals or government officials. This can include embezzlement, insider trading, fraud, and bribery. Corporate crime, on the other hand, refers to illegal activities committed by a corporation or its executives, such as environmental violations, false advertising, and antitrust violations.

An example of white-collar crime would be a financial advisor who embezzles money from their clients, while an example of corporate crime would be a company that knowingly pollutes the environment.

The costs of white-collar and corporate crime to society are significant. These crimes can lead to financial losses for individuals and businesses, damage to the environment, erosion of public trust, and even loss of life in some cases. Additionally, the resources required to investigate and prosecute these crimes can be substantial.

Identifying and prosecuting white-collar and corporate crimes can be challenging for several reasons. These crimes often involve complex financial transactions and legal loopholes, making them difficult to detect and prove. Additionally, those who commit these crimes may have significant resources to mount a legal defense, and they may also have connections that make it difficult for law enforcement to pursue charges.

Furthermore, there may be a lack of public awareness and understanding of these types of crimes, making it harder for law enforcement to gather evidence and build a case. Additionally, the regulatory environment for white-collar and corporate crime can be complex and constantly changing, making it difficult for law enforcement to keep up with the latest tactics and schemes used by criminals.

In conclusion, white-collar and corporate crime can have serious consequences for society, and the challenges in identifying and prosecuting these crimes make it essential for law enforcement and regulatory agencies to stay vigilant and proactive in addressing these issues.

Question 3

How do labeling theory and conflict theory, when linked, account for higher rates of incarceration and institutionalization among members of oppressed groups?

Answer 3

Labeling theory and conflict theory, when linked, can account for higher rates of incarceration and institutionalization among members of oppressed groups in several ways.

First, labeling theory suggests that individuals from oppressed groups are more likely to be labeled as deviant or criminal by those in positions of power. This labeling can lead to increased surveillance, policing, and ultimately higher rates of arrest and incarceration for members of these groups. For example, individuals from marginalized communities may be more likely to be targeted by law enforcement for minor infractions, leading to a cycle of criminalization and incarceration.

Second, conflict theory emphasizes the role of power dynamics and inequality in society. Members of oppressed groups are often marginalized and disenfranchised, leading to limited access to resources and opportunities. This can result in higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to quality education and healthcare. These systemic inequalities can push individuals into criminal behavior as a means of survival, further perpetuating the cycle of incarceration and institutionalization.

Additionally, conflict theory highlights the role of the criminal justice system as a tool of social control, particularly for marginalized communities. The system may disproportionately target and punish members of oppressed groups, leading to higher rates of incarceration and institutionalization.

In conclusion, when linked, labeling theory and conflict theory provide a comprehensive explanation for the higher rates of incarceration and institutionalization among members of oppressed groups. These theories highlight the role of societal power dynamics, systemic inequalities, and the criminal justice system in perpetuating the cycle of oppression and incarceration for marginalized communities.

Question 4

According to sociologists, the actions of the hijackers involved in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks are an example of _____ because their acts were committed to further their religious/political cause.

A) anomic suicide
B) altruistic suicide
C) egoistic suicide
D) situational suicide

Question 5

Durkheim's research on _____ formed the foundation for the functionalist perspective of deviance.

A) suicide
B) homosexuality
C) altruism
D) labels

Question 6

Why would Merton predict that working-class individuals would be more likely to engage in criminal activity than would middle-class or wealthier individuals?

Question 7

Anomie, as defined by Durkheim, is frequently referred to as a state of

A) extreme depression.
B) excessive social integration.
C) total detachment from society and societal forces.
D) relative normlessness caused by the breakdown of social influences.

Question 8

A key element of the sociological definition of deviant behavior is that

A) a specific behavior is either always deviant or never deviant.
B) a behavior may be judged as deviant in one situation but not in another.
C) all members of a society must agree on which acts are deviant and which are not.
D) deviant behaviors never affect large groups of people.

Question 9

How do sociologists explain the fact that women have lower rates of egoistic suicide than men?

A) Women are more fearful in general.
B) Women are very hesitant to do harm, even to themselves.
C) Women are more embedded in relations of care and responsibility.
D) Women have less access to the means for committing suicide.

Question 10

Smoking came to be labeled as deviant due to

A) the increase in crime associated with tobacco use.
B) social movements critical of tobacco use.
C) the development of labeling theory.
D) society's need to infringe on individual liberties

Question 11

The sociological definition of deviance

A) stresses social context, not individual behavior.
B) focuses exclusively on individual nonconformity.
C) recognizes deviance as being the same for all groups and settings.
D) argues that definitions of deviance remain the same over time.

Question 12

Functionalist theories of deviance

A) fear that deviance creates the breakdown of society.
B) view deviance as necessary in order to create social cohesion.
C) believe that punishment of deviance is dysfunctional because it prevents the deviance that is necessary for society.
D) assume that norms are largely meaningless.

Question 13

How are white-collar and corporate crimes different from other crimes? In your answer, address punishment and social status.

Question 14

Durkheim believed that the causes of suicide were found in

A) mental illness.
B) the social environment.
C) genetics.
D) emotional stress.

Question 15

Discuss the concepts of social control agents and elite crimes, such as white-collar and corporate crimes, using conflict theory.

Question 16

A legislator wants to change laws so that individuals arrested for possession of small amounts of illegal drugs will be sent to drug courts that will ensure that they participate in substance abuse treatment. Which of the following is the legislator advocating?

A) Mass incarceration
B) Medicalization of deviance
C) That deviance is functional for society
D) The idea that street criminals are an exploited class

Question 17

Which of the following is most likely to be responded to with treatment, thus illustrating the medicalization of deviance?

A) Gang violence
B) Body piercing
C) Alcoholism
D) Gender inequality

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of egotistic suicide?

A) Suicide by an individual who has just been sentenced to a lengthy prison sentence and sees no other way out
B) Suicide bombers who kill to further their cause and die in the attack
C) The suicide of an elderly person whose family and friends are dead and who is struggling with poverty
D) Mass suicides of religious cults that are carried out under the orders of the leader

Question 19

Describe the patterned impact of race, gender, and class in terms of policing, arrest and conviction, and sentencing; give specific examples whenever possible.

Question 20

The primary sociological criticism of the medicalization of deviance is that it

A) makes deviance too expensive to cure.
B) makes it too easy for people to behave in deviant ways.
C) ignores the impact of the social structure in the creation of deviant behavior.
D) pushes solutions off to the medical profession.

Question 21

Victor is a gang member and proud to be one. He looks to his fellow gang members as a sort of family that provides him with support, work, and safety. His view of what others see as deviance is most consistent with which approach to understanding deviance?

A) Conflict
B) Symbolic interactionist
C) Functionalist
D) Individualistic

Question 22

Lisa does not especially care what others think of her or her behavior and typically does whatever it suits her to do at the time. Social control theory would predict that she would be more likely to engage in deviant behavior because

A) she has been labeled as deviant.
B) her attachment to social bonds is weakened.
C) she does not have access to legitimate means of reaching her goals.
D) she has an obvious personality disorder.

Question 23

In the 1990s, the crack epidemic, which often affected poor, inner-city Black communities, was met with harsher sentencing laws. Today, when opioid overdoses are epidemic in white middle-class communities, the societal response is geared more toward treatment and prevention. This disparity in response is most consistent with which approach?   

A) Functionalist
B) Conflict
C) Postmodern
D) Feminist

Question 24

Thomas, age thirty-seven, grew up in an extremely impoverished neighborhood of a city that was, itself, struggling to survive after most of its factories closed and no new industries moved in to take their place. Thomas did get a high school diploma but has been periodically unemployed and, when employed, often works part-time and earns only minimum wage. He would love to get job training and make more of himself, maybe even own his own home someday, but he simply does not have the resources needed to make that happen. Merton's structural strain theory would predict that Thomas might turn to crime because of

A) the amount of anomie he experiences.
B) the emotional stress caused by his situation.
C) the tension between desired cultural goals and the means of achieving them.
D) the lack of any commitment to cultural goals.

Question 25

A weakness of the conflict theory of deviance is its failure to recognize

A) the significance of power in group relationships.
B) how the injustices of society produce crime.
C) that laws protect most people, not just the affluent.
D) the origins of crime.

Question 26

According to the social control theory, what is the primary reason that people internalize social norms?

A) They fear punishment.
B) They care what others think of them.
C) They hope for economic gain.
D) They think they will find spiritual peace.

Question 27

Mia is strongly committed to the ideals of American financial life: an education to prepare her for a lucrative career, a good job, and financial success. Fortunately, she was able to attend college on a full-ride scholarship and lived at home so that when she found her job, she had no student debt to pay off. She believes that if she works hard, she will achieve financial success. Merton would describe Mia as being in a state of 

A) innovation.
B) conformity.
C) ritualism.
D) retreatism.

Question 28

The Ku Klux Klan and Neo-Nazis are both examples of which type of cultural-structural strain?

A) Retreatism
B) Ritualism
C) Innovation
D) Rebellion

Question 29

Conflict theorists argue that

A) the power to define deviance is an important form of social control.
B) how much power a group possesses has no effect on whether its members will be labeled deviant.
C) all groups in a society are equally subject to social control.
D) labels of deviance have nothing to do with social control.

Question 30

A significant difference between the functionalist and conflict theories of deviance is that

A) functionalist theory assumes the system works for the good of the whole, and conflict theory assumes it works for the good of those in power.
B) functionalist theory focuses on social structure, and conflict theory focuses on social control.
C) functionalist theory focuses on the individual, and conflict theory focuses on society as a whole.
D) functionalist theory ignores the role of deviance in society, and conflict theory focuses on the role of deviance in society.

Question 31

Which of these statements about the functionalist approach to deviance is false?

A) It focuses on the social structure, not individual action.
B) It argues that some things that are seen as dysfunctional are actually functional for society.
C) It explains how social norms first become established in society.
D) It sees deviance as having a stabilizing influence on society.

Question 32

From the conflict perspective on deviance, all of the following are true except

A) deviance results from inequality in society.
B) powerless groups may be labeled deviant for small infractions.
C) deviance reaffirms social solidarity.
D) racial minorities are punished more frequently than others.

Question 33

Which of the following is an example of informal deviance in U.S. culture?

A) Driving five miles an hour over speeding laws
B) Underage drinking
C) Body piercing
D) Bigamy

Question 34

Conflict and functionalist theories of deviance share

A) an emphasis on individual motivation.
B) a focus on how a shared definition of a situation affects deviance.
C) an emphasis on the social structure in creating deviance.
D) a common understanding of the role of crime and the legal system in defining deviance.

Question 35

Social control theory is based on the assumptions that

A) most people feel some impulse toward deviance but that their attachment to a common value system keeps them from acting on those impulses.
B) those with the most power in society define deviance and that they use supposed deviance to exclude others from power.
C) deviance is a result of labeling and thus naturally leads to the need for mass incarceration.
D) deviants agree with the goals of society but are blocked from achieving them through legitimate means.

Question 36

The historic persecution of witches is presented in the text as an example of

A) a system that works for the good of the whole society.
B) how dominant groups can exert control over other groups by marking some populations as deviant.
C) how deviance may be functional for society.
D) the importance of shared values and beliefs within a society.

Question 37

A criticism of the functional perspective on deviance is that it

A) places too much emphasis on the individual.
B) does not explain why some people are able to impose their ideas or judgments on others.
C) overemphasizes injustice and inequality in society.
D) fails to see the good that deviance accomplishes.

Question 38

Sociologists would consider _____ to be a form of _____ deviance.

A) crime; informal
B) crime; formal
C) rudeness; formal
D) rudeness; inherent

Question 39

The term _____ crime refers to criminal activities by people of high social status who commit crime in the context of their occupation.

A) professional
B) white-collar
C) situational
D) class

Question 40

Many mass shootings at schools, from Columbine to Sandy Hook to Virginia Tech to Umpqua Community College, end when the shooters commit suicide. The shooters were often socially marginalized, had tumultuous relationships with others and weak social networks, and sometimes saw their crimes as a way to be famous. Durkheim would most likely classify their suicides as

A) anomic or egoistic suicide.
B) altruistic or egoistic suicide.
C) egoistic or fatalistic suicide.
D) fatalistic or altruistic suicide.

Question 41

The primary weakness of the labeling theory is

A) that it overemphasizes social attachment.
B) its disregard for the role of those with power in creating deviance.
C) that it does not explain the reasons for the behavior that comes to be labeled as deviant.
D) that it overstates the subjective nature of identifying deviance.

Question 42

The strength of the labeling theory is that it

A) recognizes the nature of a shared value system in society.
B) acknowledges that the judgments people make about perceived deviance have powerful effects.
C) emphasizes economic inequality as the primary source of deviance.
D) explains why deviant behavior occurs.

Question 43

From a labeling perspective, which of these statements about deviant identity is false?

A) A deviant identity usually emerges over time.
B) A deviant identity is developed through a process of interaction with others.
C) Deviant identity involves how other people view the target of the deviant label.
D) A deviant identity is simple to change.

Question 44

A high school student acts bored in class, and the teacher decides she is a bad student. This teacher discusses the student with other teachers who then treat that student as if she were a bad student. This describes the process of

A) differential association.
B) cultural transmission.
C) labeling.
D) weakening social bonds.

Question 45

When someone violates customary norms that are not specified in the legal code, he or she is engaging in _____ deviance.

A) informal
B) formal
C) impersonal
D) personal

Question 46

Differential association theory explains deviance by

A) emphasizing how deviance is culturally transmitted.
B) focusing on who has the power to label behaviors as deviant.
C) making reference to societal goals and the means of achieving them.
D) noting that some people have more power than others to define what is considered deviant.

Question 47

Conflict theory understands deviance as being _____, while symbolic interaction emphasizes _____.

A) the result of social inequity; the role of learning
B) the result of labeling; the importance of social cohesion
C) necessary for social cohesion; the role of power structures
D) a learned behavior; the need for social cohesion

Question 48

The University of Chicago sociologist who defined deviance as a normal response to the social conditions rather than attributing it to individual character or personality is

A) W. I. Thomas.
B) Michael Dyson.
C) Talcott Parsons.
D) Robert Merton.

Question 49

In their research on the American prison system, Bruce Western and Jeffrey Reiman note that the prison system functions as though it were designed to

A) train and socialize prisoners into a career of secondary deviance.
B) help prisoners repay their debt to society.
C) give prisoners marketable skills that will keep them from returning to prison.
D) make prisoners more respectable.

Question 50

A problem with differential association theory is that it

A) does not explain how people who are not members of deviant cultures become deviants.
B) fails to account for socialization.
C) ignores the influence of friends and family.
D) does not explain how deviance is learned.

Question 51

Mr. Martin, a high school math teacher, notices that Bryan doesn't seem to pay attention in class and generally does poorly on assignments and tests.  He decides that Bryan must be lazy and relays his assessment to other teachers. Mr. Martin is engaging in

A) consensus.
B) labeling.
C) exploitation.
D) social control.

Question 52

Labeling theorists would explain recidivism among those released from prison as

A) behavior caused by the company they keep upon their release.
B) resulting from their anger at having been incarcerated.
C) a function of biology.
D) behavior caused by the difficulty in altering their classification as deviants.

Question 53

Although _____  theory has difficulty explaining why upper-class individuals commit crime, differential association theory, a type of _____ theory, is able to do so by characterizing deviance as learned.

A) functionalist; symbolic interaction
B) functionalist; conflict
C) conflict; symbolic interaction
D) symbolic interaction; conflict

Question 54

Social labeling theory emphasizes the importance of groups that are able to apply labels and impose sanctions. This aspect of social labeling theory makes it most associated with

A) functionalism.
B) social exchange theory.
C) symbolic interactionism.
D) feminist theory.

Question 55

Which of these is not one of the factors that the symbolic interactionist theory uses to explain deviant behavior?

A) The meanings people attribute to a situation
B) How people respond to the meaning of a situation
C) The interaction between different groups
D) The strength of people's attachment to social norms

Question 56

Researchers who espouse a symbolic interaction are more likely to do _____ research that focuses on _____.

A) macrosociological; the rewards received for deviant behavior
B) macrosociological; the effects of social class and power
C) microsociological; the meanings attributed to situations
D) microsociological; how society benefits from deviance

Question 57

W. I. Thomas explained deviance as

A) a response to social disorganization.
B) behavior one learns from others.
C) behavior frequently associated with crime.
D) varied behavior dependent on one's social bonds.

Question 58

According to Sutherland's differential association theory, people become criminals when they

A) are more strongly socialized to break the law than to obey it.
B) are genetically predisposed to deviate.
C) lack socially approved means to realize socially established goals.
D) lack proper attachment to others.

Question 59

Symbolic interactionist theories of deviance originated in _____ and looked to _____ to explain deviance. 

A) the perspective of classical sociologists; individual characteristics
B) the perspective of the Chicago School of sociology; social conditions
C) the works of Karl Marx; class conflict
D) the ideas of Emile Durkheim; labeling effects

Question 60

According to _____, people behave as they do because of the meanings they give to different situations. For example, whether binge drinking is seen as normal behavior or deviant may depend on whether a student attends a "party school" or a college that emphasizes more scholarly activities.

A) functionalist theory
B) conflict theory
C) symbolic interaction theory
D) social control theory

Question 61

In some subcultures or situations, deviant behavior is encouraged and praised, as when people egg each other on to commit acts of vandalism.

Question 62

According to Merton, an imbalance, or disjunction, between cultural goals and structurally available means can actually compel the individual into deviant behavior. Thus, someone who has legal way to earn a living may turn to illegal ways.

Question 63

Sutherland's differential association theory argues that deviant behavior is learned.

Question 64

U.S. adults are more likely to approve of the use of medically prescribed marijuana than they are likely to approve of marijuana for recreational use, indicating that, as sociologists claim, definitions of deviance depend on social context. 

Question 65

According to labeling theory, labels are easy to change, and an individual, once labeled as deviant, will be able to easily shed that label by changing his or her behavior.

Question 66

Crime is an example of formal deviance.

Question 67

Stigmatizing some people

A) helps elevate their social status.
B) leads to their becoming more interesting.
C) serves to reinforce "normalness" in others.
D) has little impact on their overall identity.

Question 68

Which of the following types of crimes is the least likely to be rigorously addressed by the criminal justice system, perhaps because it violates a law but has no complainant?

A) Personal crimes
B) Property crimes
C) Victimless crimes
D) Violent crimes

Question 69

Deviance is an inherent quality of behavior-the deviance lies in the act itself.

Question 70

_____ is an attribute that is socially devalued and discredited.

A) Achieved status
B) Social stigma
C) Atypicality
D) Nonconformism

Question 71

Conflict theorists argue that the law is generally neutral and fair in its form and implementation, favoring no single group's particular interests.

Question 72

Officer Matthews sees two cars speed by. According to the meter, the drivers were each going ten miles per hour over the speed limit. One driver has light-colored skin, and the other has dark-colored skin. Officer Matthews pulls over the darker-skinned driver based his hunch that the driver must be up to no good despite there being no objective differences other than skin color. Matthews is using

A) good judgment.
B) racial profiling.
C) neutral policing.
D) randomness.

Question 73

Which of the following statements about deviance is false?

A) Even the most aberrant or odd behavior may be understood if we understand the situation in which it occurs.
B) Most deviant actions are deviant regardless of the circumstances.
C) Definitions of what is considered deviant behavior may change over time.
D) Some actions are considered deviant only when certain people commit them.

Question 74

Although the marriage of young girls to markedly older men used to be acceptable, it is now, for the most part, no longer accepted in Western nations, illustrating that previously accepted behaviors can come to be viewed as deviant.

Question 75

Once a behavior has been defined as deviant, it cannot revert back to acceptability and will always be considered deviant.

Question 76

Functionalists suggest that deviance is functional because it creates social cohesion.

Question 77

Which of the following is true regarding violent crime?

A) Violent crime is increasing and is random in terms of who is victimized.
B) Violent crime is decreasing and is random in terms of who is victimized.
C) Violent crime is increasing and is not random in terms of who is victimized.
D) Violent crime is decreasing and is not random in terms of who is victimized.

Question 78

From the perspective of the social control theory of deviance, most people internalize social norms because they care what other people think of them.

Question 79

Labeling some groups of people as deviant may serve as a form of social control when the label itself carries stigma.

Question 80

A soldier who shoots and kills an enemy combatant in battle is typically not considered deviant. An individual who shoots and kills a neighbor for playing loud music is typically considered deviant. This illustrates the point that

A) killing is not morally deviant.
B) whether or not behavior is considered deviant depends on the context.
C) soldiers are not judged as harshly as others in the general population when it comes to how they behave.
D) military law supersedes civil law.