Chapter 1: Determining Deviance

Question 1

Conformity

Answer 1

Norms and values that society expects of you

Question 2

Deviance

Answer 2

A person, behavior or characteristic that is socially typed as deviant and subjected to measures of social control

Question 3

Negative Deviance

Answer 3

Violates situational expectations

Question 4

Positive Deviance

Answer 4

Intentional behaviors that depart from the norms of a referent group in honorable ways by surpassing expectations

Question 5

Social Norms

Answer 5

Expectations of conduct in particular situations
Norm violations usually result in public reaction or sanctions
Social norms create deviance

Question 6

Statistical Rarity

Answer 6

People, behaviors or characteristics that are statistically rare in a population

Question 7

Statistical Rarity Limitations

Answer 7

Criteria for “rare” are ambiguous
Common acts may be considered unacceptable
Rare acts may be considered acceptable

Question 8

Harm

Answer 8

People, behaviors or characteristics that cause harm
Physical, emotional, social, ontological

Question 9

Negative Societal Reaction

Answer 9

People, behavior or characteristics that society’s “masses” respond to with negative emotions

Question 10

Harm Limitations

Answer 10

Perceptions of harm change over time
Perceptions of harm are subjective

Question 11

Negative Societal Reaction Limitations

Answer 11

Criteria for determining “masses” are unclear
Some people’s reactions have a greater impact
Public opinion often matters less than other factors

Question 12

Absolutist View of Norms

Answer 12

Behavior or characteristic is inherently and universally deviant
Some norms should be followed in all cultures at all times
Absolute moral order

Question 13

Culturally-Specific View of Norms

Answer 13

Norms are culturally specific
Not an absolute moral order

Question 14

Normative Violation

Answer 14

People, behaviors or characteristics that violate societal norms

Question 15

Normative Violation Limitations

Answer 15

Lack of consensus over norms

Question 15

Subjectivism

Answer 15

People, behaviors or characteristics that dominant moral codes deem unacceptable and in need of control
Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes to understand other points of view as to why someone views something as deviant

Question 16

Objectivist Views of Deviance

Answer 16

Deviance is seen as a quality
A very structured idea of what is acceptable and what is deviant
Only studying the deviant act, not challenging it

Question 17

Subjectivist Views of Deviance

Answer 17

An act is subject to different interpretations
Focuses on people’s perceptions and reactions
Questions the rationale about why some things are viewed as deviant

Question 18

Moral Entrepreneurs

Answer 18

These people define what is morally acceptable in society

Question 19

Act-Objective Approach

Answer 19

Objective end of the continuum
Focuses on deviant acts
Those acts have an inherently deviant quality

Question 20

Act-Subjective Approach

Answer 20

Subjective end of the continuum
Focuses on our perceptions of and reactions to the act
Emphasis on the deviance dance
Importance of power relations - moral entrepreneurs

Question 21

Role of Power in Moral Code of Society

Answer 21

Some individuals have more power than others
Some groups have more power than others
Power lies in social institutions

Question 22

Social Typing Process

Answer 22

The process by which a person, behavior or characteristic is deviantized
Components: description, evaluation, prescription

Question 23

Description

Answer 23

The label of deviance being given to a certain behavior, person or characteristic

Question 24

Evaluation

Answer 24

Judging the deviant person and the deviant act

Question 25

Prescription

Answer 25

Imposing sanctions
Societal reaction based on the severity of the act

Question 26

Formal Social Control

Answer 26

Written rules and laws so it is universally known

Question 27

Informal Social Control

Answer 27

It is socially known throughout the community
Rules are not written down but it is expected that you know it

Question 28

Retroactive Social Control

Answer 28

Learning from mistakes and experiences that have happened in the past
Ex. someone in jail

Question 29

Preventative Social Control

Answer 29

Measures in place to prevent deviant acts in the future
Taking action to prevent things from happening later

Question 30

Social Control of Others

Answer 30

People of higher authority that are meant to control people who are below them

Question 31

Social Control of Self

Answer 31

What you do in order to not be seen as deviant
Your behavior changes between social settings in order to fit in