Deck 8: Deviance and Social Control

Question 1

How does deviance contribute to group solidarity?

A)Deviance unites people against a common enemy.
B)Overcoming deviance fosters bonding.
C)People with common deviant dispositions bond.
D)Reformed deviants crave group acceptance.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Those defined as deviant often suffer a _____ attached to their deviance.It is associated with shame,loss of status,discrimination,and social isolation.

A)master status
B)secondary deviance
C)stigma
D)loss of self

Answer 2

C

Question 3

From the sociological perspective,what causes people to engage in deviant behavior?

A)genetic disposition
B)rational choice
C)psychological abnormality
D)loss of morality in society

Answer 3

B

Question 4

An ex-convict has a difficult time finding employment because his criminal record has become his

A)master status.
B)secondary deviance.
C)internalized self.
D)designation as abnormal.

Question 5

According to Emile Durkheim's definition,an act is deviant or criminal because it

A)offends social norms.
B)is essentially wrong by any standard.
C)is inherently immoral.
D)is illegal.

Question 6

A child who is continuously derided by his parents as "slow" will internalize this label as part of his identity.Instead of trying to succeed in school,he drops out and turns to drugs and alcohol.This is an example of

A)induced deviance.
B)secondary deviance.
C)social conditioning.
D)strain theory.

Question 7

The tendency to define a deviant behavior as an illness,for which treatment is best left to medical professionals,is referred to as _____ deviance.

A)illness
B)medical
C)medicalization of
D)pathology of

Question 8

Which of the following accurately describes deviance?

A)It is defined as immoral and wrong.
B)It resists change.
C)It depends on a public condemnation.
D)It changes with time and context.

Question 9

From the sociological perspective on deviance,how does one become an alcoholic?

A)He or she has a very high blood-alcohol level.
B)He or she exhibits behavior indicative of intoxication.
C)He or she commits a public outrage.
D)He or she is labeled as such.

Question 10

What we define as normal and abnormal behavior depends on

A)evidence of abnormality.
B)empirical research.
C)social context.
D)individual opinion.

Question 11

From the functionalist perspective,a society without deviance would be excessively conformist.Such a society would

A)be close to an ideal society.
B)be highly productive and innovative.
C)strive for perfection.
D)limit change and innovation.

Question 12

From the functionalist perspective,crime serves a purpose in society.Which function does crime perform?

A)benefits some people economically
B)provides alternative opportunities
C)defines boundaries between right and wrong
D)helps the poor

Question 13

In public we behave ourselves according to a set of rules and expectations,even though no written rules exist to hold us accountable.Why do we still behave "normally"?

A)It is natural.
B)Many rules are implicit.
C)Life is easier if we do so.
D)It is the right thing to do.

Question 14

A behavior becomes defined as deviant because

A)it is contrary to a moral code.
B)most believe that it is deviant.
C)it is labeled as deviant.
D)it is inherently and profoundly wrong.

Question 15

Divorce was once considered deviant and,in many parts of the world,it still is.Today,Americans hardly think of divorce as something abnormal.Which reason is responsible for the redefinition of divorce as no longer deviant?

A)change in social context
B)social progress
C)decline in morality
D)decline in religious authority

Question 16

Deviance is best defined by which of the choices?

A)anything outside of the norm
B)behavior that people disapprove of
C)behavior that does not conform to norms and expectations
D)behavior that is inherently abnormal

Question 17

One becomes considered a deviant when publically marked with such a designation,and typically acknowledges this definition as part of his or her identity.This is a definition of what theory?

A)strain theory
B)deviance theory
C)labeling theory
D)rational choice theory

Question 18

Which factor helps define the boundary between normal and deviant?

A)conformity
B)nonconformity
C)use of force
D)conditioning

Question 19

People sometimes commit acts that contradict most any moral code.What explains such deviant behavior?

A)individual immorality
B)social immorality
C)a set of social conditions
D)anti-social personality

Question 20

What did Emile Durkheim mean by collective conscience?

A)collective guilt
B)shared values,norms,and beliefs
C)capacity for morality
D)ability to distinguish right from wrong

Question 21

What percentage of adolescent girls are dissatisfied with their bodies and try to lose weight?

A)less than 40%
B)over 50 %
C)over 60%
D)over 70%

Question 22

Which of the following has contributed to the shift towards the more medically centered perspective of deviance?

A)increase in metal health problems
B)unhealthy diet and lifestyle
C)growing power of the medical profession
D)improvement in medical technology

Question 23

Which is NOT a factor driving the medicalization of deviance?

A)power of pharmaceutical companies
B)direct consumer advertising
C)improvement in diagnostic ability
D)growing power of the medical profession

Question 24

Strain theory proposes that when _____,people resort to deviant means to accomplish socially defined goals.

A)pressured by expectations
B)conventional opportunities are blocked
C)influenced by a deviant subculture
D)opportunities arise

Question 25

Deviance is learned through interaction with members of a deviant group.This defines which theoretical perspective?

A)differential association theory
B)strain theory
C)innovation theory
D)juvenile association theory

Question 26

The focus on underlying medical issues when it comes to explaining deviance also changes how we view and treat deviants.Because the focus is on the medical cause,we are now more likely to treat deviants

A)with pity rather than scorn.
B)without the stigma attached.
C)as requiring institutionalization.
D)as beyond help.

Question 27

According to Elijah Anderson's research,the "code of the street" defines life in poor neighborhoods.What does he mean by the term?

A)a dysfunctional community
B)an alternative social structure
C)a crime-ridden environment
D)an unstructured community

Question 28

Once a person is socialized into the subculture of a deviant group,their deviant behavior can be controlled by

A)limiting social connection with deviant group.
B)encouraging resocialization into social norms.
C)rewarding positive behavior.
D)medicalization.

Question 29

A medical definition of deviance becomes accepted and goes uncontested because

A)it is a more accurate understanding of deviance.
B)it becomes institutionalized.
C)it is scientifically proven.
D)new technology allows for better diagnosis.

Question 30

How does the new genetic explanation behind some forms of mental illness impact the siblings and children of the victims?

A)It has no impact.
B)It impacts their life chances.
C)It increases their chances of inheriting the illness.
D)It stigmatizes them by genetic association.

Question 31

The prevailing explanation of alcoholism is now that of an illness.In the past,what was the main perspective on the causes of alcoholism?

A)psychological dispositions
B)moral failure
C)genetic disposition
D)lack of self-control

Question 32

Strain theory suggests that deviance has its roots in

A)inequality.
B)social pressure.
C)improper socialization.
D)non-conformist conditioning.

Question 33

The medicalization of deviance can also be reversed.Which of the following is an example of demedicalization?

A)the current definition of anti-social behavior
B)the current definition of mental illness
C)the current definition of homosexuality
D)the current definition of learning problems

Question 34

Deviant subcultures provide their members with

A)an identity and self-worth.
B)stable environments.
C)useful skills.
D)future opportunities.

Question 35

Individuals typically engage in deviant behavior only on temporary basis.Long-term deviance requires

A)family support.
B)financial support.
C)the support of a deviant subculture.
D)the support of authorities.

Question 36

The percentage of obese adults in the United States is now

A)in decline.
B)on par with the 1980s.
C)slightly higher than the 1970s.
D)higher than ever.

Question 37

Consistent with the premises of strain theory,research finds that juvenile delinquency and gang membership is primarily caused by

A)social pressure.
B)blocked opportunities.
C)broken family structures.
D)moral failure.

Question 38

Some deviant acts are committed without membership in a deviant subculture and without the support of others.This type of deviance is known as

A)sociopathic behavior.
B)anti-social behavior.
C)unsupported deviance.
D)loner deviance.

Question 39

Discrimination related to obesity happens regardless of gender,race,or age,overshadowing most all other aspects of a person's identity.Obesity may be becoming a

A)new normal.
B)new stigma.
C)master status.
D)low status.

Question 40

Deviance tends to occur when a major discrepancy exists between the culturally defined goals and the means of achieving those goals.Which theoretical perspective of deviance does this statement represent?

A)medicalization theory
B)strain theory
C)differential association theory
D)control theory

Question 41

Social institutions charged with the enforcement of norm and rules and the power to punish violators are referred to as

A)governments.
B)agents of social control.
C)the powerful.
D)the dominant elite.

Question 42

Our behavior is regulated by the degree to which we are attached to major social institutions.This defines which theoretical perspective?

A)strain theory
B)rational choice theory
C)differential association theory
D)control theory

Question 43

Overconformist behavior that is met with a positive response is called

A)overconformity.
B)positive deviance.
C)approved behavior.
D)orderly conduct.

Question 44

A crime motivated by a bias against someone's race,gender,sexual orientation,or disability is called a(n)

A)biased crime.
B)immoral act.
C)hate crime.
D)prejudiced behavior.

Question 45

Michel Foucault suggests that because we have internalized social norms and are ready to self-police we are subject to social control in the form of

A)structural domination.
B)coercive structure.
C)surveillance.
D)a rigid order.

Question 46

A cultural shift in which a formerly deviant behavior is reclassified as acceptable is referred to as

A)acceptance.
B)compensation.
C)normalization.
D)restructuring.

Question 47

From the functionalist perspective,self-policing is

A)limiting freedom in society.
B)necessary for both the individual and society.
C)oppressive of individuals.
D)not necessary to preserve order.

Question 48

Cosmetic surgery has lost the stigma previously associated with it.This cultural shift is an example of

A)compensation.
B)acceptance.
C)a new paradigm.
D)normalization .

Question 49

Some people hope that marijuana will soon be legal.They hope for the ______of marijuana.

A)marketization
B)decriminalization
C)monetization
D)distribution

Question 50

On what does control theory focus on in order to understand why people engage in deviant behavior?

A)why people break rules
B)why people follow rules
C)how institutions control people
D)the importance of attachment

Question 51

The efforts of disability rights activists to remove the stigma attached to disability demonstrate how the definition of normal versus abnormal depends upon

A)the nature of the affliction.
B)cultural definition.
C)how individuals feel.
D)the degree of abnormality.

Question 52

Within the nudist community,wearing no clothes whenever possible is an example of what type of behavior?

A)positive deviance
B)deviance
C)overconformity
D)conformist behavior

Question 53

Eating disorders are the result of which type of behavior?

A)overconformist
B)deviant
C)obsessive
D)irrational

Question 54

Power is an important factor to consider in the understanding of deviance because

A)the powerful can afford to be deviant.
B)the more powerful can defend themselves.
C)some groups have the power to define deviance.
D)some people have power to overcome deviance.

Question 55

Control theory suggests that the closer our attachment to institutions and people who matter to us,the

A)greater the cost of rule-breaking.
B)more likely we are to rebel.
C)less likely we are to follow rules.
D)more likely we obey orders.

Question 56

Why is white-collar crime rarely prosecuted and why do its perpetrators typically go unpunished?

A)It is less immoral than non-white-collar crime.
B)White-collar crime is rare.
C)White-collar crime typically inflicts less harm on others than other types of crime.
D)White-collar perpetrators have high status and power.

Question 57

We mostly abide by the rules and norms imposed on us by our culture because non-conformity is typically punished and conformity rewarded.This social mechanism is referred to as

A)social control.
B)collective conscience.
C)implicit structure.
D)group solidarity.

Question 58

People follow social rules and norms because

A)they are moral.
B)people are naturally obedient.
C)people need guidance.
D)they have internalized them.

Question 59

Following cultural expectations excessively defines which type of behavior?

A)deviance
B)overconformity
C)obsession
D)obedience

Question 60

Women in the military are still considered deviant by some.How does power play a role here?

A)Women do not have enough power to be soldiers.
B)Women have limited power to defend their rights.
C)Men have traditionally defined gender appropriate roles.
D)Women need more power to overcome prejudice.

Question 61

The argument that the death penalty is justified because the most horrendous crimes deserve the most severe punishment is an example of which rationale for punishment?

A)deterrence
B)restoration
C)retribution
D)protection

Question 62

Which statement best describes the effectiveness of capital punishment?

A)It is a crime deterrent.
B)It lowers the murder rate.
C)It is an ineffective deterrent.
D)It saves taxpayers money.

Question 63

In which of the following areas of the United States do most executions take place?

A)Washington,D.C.
B)the southern states
C)the Northeast
D)the West

Question 64

What does the crime rates figure represent?

A)sum of crimes committed
B)crime incidence relative to population size
C)sum of arrests
D)number of people in prison

Question 65

The dramatic increase in incarceration rates since the 1980s was caused by a(n)

A)increase in overall crime rates.
B)increase in violent crime rates.
C)prison system change.
D)policy change.

Question 66

Which of the following best describes race and the justice system in the United States?

A)Race is not a factor in the justice system.
B)Whites are more likely to be arrested and punished.
C)Black men are six times more likely to be imprisoned than white men.
D)White women are more likely to be imprisoned than Hispanic women.

Question 67

Which statement is accurate concerning capital punishment worldwide?

A)Most countries have the death penalty.
B)Two-thirds no longer have the death penalty.
C)Five European countries still practice the death penalty.
D)Only democratic nations have abolished the death penalty.

Question 68

Which statement best describes capital punishment in the United States?

A)All states have capital punishment provisions.
B)Capital punishment is a cost-saving solution.
C)Capital punishment serves as a deterrent.
D)A majority of states have capital punishment provisions.

Question 69

Which statement best describes recidivism rates in the United States?

A)Two-thirds are rearrested within three years.
B)Recidivism is low.
C)Many programs exist to prevent recidivism.
D)A majority commit new crimes.

Question 70

The foundation of the racial disparity in the justice system is

A)long-term economic inequality.
B)prejudice.
C)corruption in the system.
D)differential value systems.

Question 71

What has been the trend in crime rates since the 1990s?

A)steady increase
B)dramatic increase
C)steady decline
D)virtually no change

Question 72

Why are nonconformist activities or styles attractive as commercial products?

A)To many people,they represent authenticity.
B)They are easily marketable.
C)They attract mass attention.
D)For a significant portion of the population,they cater to preexisting dispositions.

Question 73

Which statement best describes Americans' opinions on capital punishment?

A)More people favor capital punishment now than in the past.
B)People who favor capital punishment are typically racially tolerant.
C)Whites are more likely than Blacks to be in favor of capital punishment.
D)Opinion is unrelated to race.

Question 74

What best describes the realities of equality before the law in the United States?

A)Chances of arrest and punishment are equal for all.
B)The poor face greater likelihood of arrest and punishment.
C)The poor are more likely to get arrested but not punished.
D)The rich are equally likely to be punished,but less likely to be arrested.

Question 75

Non-conformist activities or styles are sometimes turned into commercial products.This is called

A)direct marketing.
B)consumer rebellion.
C)commercialization of deviance.
D)radical chic.

Question 76

White-collar crime

A)is infrequent.
B)is limited in the harm it causes.
C)has serious costs including physical injury.
D)is limited to financial costs and consequences.

Question 77

Ex-prisoners have a difficult time reintegrating into the community.Which is the most stubborn obstacle that prevents their transition into normal life?

A)broken ties to community
B)stigma attached to their criminal status
C)lack of employment opportunity
D)lack of education

Question 78

The belief that offenders need to be incarcerated to eliminate threat and prevent harm to the public is an example of which rationale for punishment?

A)elimination
B)protection
C)restoration
D)neutralization

Question 79

Tax evasion is considered

A)a minor crime.
B)a white-collar crime.
C)an act of civil disobedience.
D)not necessarily illegal.

Question 80

Which statement best describes racial disparity in the application of capital punishment?

A)African Americans account for over 40% of death row inmates.
B)Little racial disparity exists.
C)Hispanics are most disproportionately represented.
D)Whites are most likely to face capital punishment.