Chapter 1

Question 1

According to some deviance specialists, recent definitions of deviance have largely come to accept the notion of an observable characteristic that all “deviants” share

True or False

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Defining deviance on the basis of statistical rarity is more common in everyday conversation than in scientific research

True or False

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The fact that left-handedness is considered acceptable in Canadian society suggests that there are limitations to defining deviance on the basis of statistical rarity

True or False.

Answer 3

True.

Question 4

According to the definition of deviance that emphasizes harm, something is “deviant” only if it harms someone else rather than oneself

True or False.

Answer 4

False.

Question 5

One of the limitations of using harm as the defining characteristic of deviance is that perceptions of harm change over time

True or False.

Answer 5

True.

Question 6

In the early 20th century, social activist Emily Murphy claimed that marijuana use caused extreme violence, insanity, and death. When we evaluate her claims today, we can see one of the limitations of defining deviance on the basis of negative societal reaction.

True or False

Answer 6

False.

Question 7

A century ago, doctors claimed that masturbation caused acne, hairy palms, and insanity. When we consider these claims today, we can see one of the limitations of defining deviance on the basis of harm.

T or F

Answer 7

True.

Question 8

Because most Canadians disapprove of heroin use, we can say that heroin use is “deviant”, according to the definition of deviance that emphasizes negative societal reaction.

T or F

Answer 8

True.

Question 9

Under leader Stephen Harper, the Conservative Party of Canada held free votes in Parliament (as a proxy for societal reaction) on the two “hot-button” issues of the day—same sex marriage and the decriminalization of marijuana

T or F

Answer 9

False

Question 10

One of the limitations of defining deviance on the basis of a negative societal reaction is that there are usually varying reactions to the same act, wherein different groups of people in society have different opinions on the same issue.

T or F

Answer 10

True.

Question 11

A question that some people raise about defining deviance on the basis of societal reaction is whether some people’s reactions (e.g. the Prime Minister’s) count more than other people’s reactions (e.g. a homeless person’s).

T or F

Answer 11

True.

Question 12

Criminal laws, which define the social norms and subsequent behaviours that are deemed deviant, are born from consensus.

T or F

Answer 12

False.

Question 13

According to subjective definitions of deviance, the presence of specific observable characteristics tells us whether someone is deviant.

T or F

Answer 13

False.

Question 14

Many contemporary definitions of deviance combine both objective and subjective elements

T or F

Answer 14

True

Question 15

Deviance specialists who focus on the more subjective aspects of deviance analyze the perceptions of and reactions to deviant acts, rather than the deviant acts themselves.

T or F

Answer 15

True.

Question 16

The “deviance dance” is of particular interest to deviance specialists who lean toward the subjective end of the objective-subjective continuum

T or F

Answer 16

True.

Question 17

According to the textbook author, the greatest degree of understanding of deviance comes from combining both more objective and more subjective approaches

T or F

Answer 17

True.

Question 18

In the 19th century women’s groups attempted to reduce alcohol consumption, claiming it to be the “demon liquor”. From the perspective of deviance specialists, these women were an example of moral entrepreneurs.

T or F

Answer 18

True.

Question 19

The alcohol industry itself has the power to influence government alcohol policies

T or F

Answer 19

True.

Question 20

Definitions of deviance include people that individuals do not like, as well as characteristics that society has defined as ‘wrong’.

T or F

Answer 20

False.

Question 21

The idea of ‘relativism’ when looking at norms in society is more common in modern objectivist deviance research then it is in the earlier absolute objectivist research.

T or F

Answer 21

True.

Relativism means that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute.

Question 22

When looking at deviance from a social constructionist point of view, we are most interested why someone becomes deviant

T or F

Answer 22

False.

Question 23

Dressing in a suit when going to a job interview would be an example of retroactive social control

T or F

Answer 23

False.

Question 24

The objective-subjective dichotomy is the dominant way of analyzing deviance in contemporary research.

T or F

Answer 24

False.

Question 25

According to social constructionism, the individual behaviour is the primary concern of sociological research.

T or F

Answer 25

False.

Question 26

The ________/________ dichotomy has traditionally served as the foundation for discussing definitions of deviance.

A) Objective/Subjective
B) Singular/Pluralistic 
C) Dissensus/Consensus 
D) Social Typing/Constructionist 
E) Statistical/normative

Answer 26

a) Objective/Subjective

Question 27

Which of the following groups of people would be considered “deviant”, based on the concept of statistical rarity?

A) Canadians who smoke
B) high school students who participate in “heavy petting”
C) Adolescent consumers of alcohol who have engaged in binge drinking
D) Adolescents who abstain from marijuana use
E) Canadians who smoke and high school students who participate in “heavy petting”, would both be considered “deviant”, based on the concept of statistical rarity.

Answer 27

A) Canadians who smoke

Question 28

Josh is a boy in Gr 11 who has never made out with a partner. According to which definition of deviance would Josh be considered “deviant”?

A) physical harm 
B) societal reaction 
C) statistical rarity 
D) Normative violation 
E) Ontological harm

Answer 28

C) statistical rarity

Question 29

Which of the following examples reflects the limitations of using statistical rarity as the defining characteristic of deviance?

A) Wayne Gretzky is not considered “deviant” in Canadian society.
B) Left-handed people are not considered “deviant” in Canadian society
C) “heavy petting” among teenagers is socially controlled in Canadian society
D) people who are physically active are not considered “deviant” in Canadian society
E) the limitations of using statistical rarity as the defining characteristic of deviance are reflected by all of the above statements.

Answer 29

E) the limitations of using statistical rarity as the defining characteristic of deviance are reflected by all of the above statements.

Question 30

What are the limitations of definitions of deviance that emphasizes statistical rarity?

A) some statistically common characteristics are considered “deviant” in society
B) some statistically rare characteristics are considered “normal” in society
C) There is too much consensus and too little debate about the precise meaning of “rare”
D) The law (i.e as seen in the Criminal Code) reflects power and vested interests rather than normative consensus
E) Some common characteristics are considered “deviant”, and some rare characteristics are considered “normal”: in society

Answer 30

E) Some common characteristics are considered “deviant”, and some rare characteristics are considered “normal”: in society

Question 31

Which of the following behaviours or characteristics would be considered “deviant”, based on the concept of harm?

a) smoking
b) alcoholism
c) criminal behaviour
d) emotional abuse
e) smoking, alcoholism, criminal behaviour, and emotional abuse would all be considered “deviant” based on the concept of harm.

Answer 31

e) smoking, alcoholism, criminal behaviour, and emotional abuse would all be considered “deviant” based on the concept of harm.

Question 32

Which of the following behaviours, characteristics, or people was considered “deviant” at some point in history, based on the concept of harm?

a) Joan of Arc 
B) masturbation 
c) marijuana use
d) early 20th century feminists 
e) Joan of Arc, masturbation, marijuana use, and early 20th century feminists were all considered "deviant" at some point in history, based on the concept of harm.

Answer 32

e) Joan of Arc, masturbation, marijuana use, and early 20th century feminists were all considered “deviant” at some point in history, based on the concept of harm.

Question 33

What was the primary reason given for the criminalization of marijuana possession in the 1920s?

a) normative violation
b) statistical rarity
c) negative societal reaction
d) harm
e) harm and statistical rarity

Answer 33

d) harm

Question 34

What are the limitations of defining deviance on the basis of harm?

a) perceptions of harm can be subjective
b) perceptions of harm rarely change over time
c) behaviour expectations are frequently characterized by power and vested interests
d) typical behaviours are sometimes perceived as “deviant” in society
E) the reactions of some groups of people in society often carry more weight than do the reactions of other groups

Answer 34

a) perceptions of harm can be subjective