Chapter 3

Question 1

What are the strengths of positivist theory?

Answer 1

Search for causation, which facilitates identification of the most effective means of achieving fixed ends.

Question 2

What do subjective views of deviance claim?

Answer 2

We cannot know deviance when we see it, and instead must be told that a behaviour or characteristic is deviant.

Question 3

Interpretive Theories

Answer 3

Theories that draw attention to people’s intersubjective understandings of the world around them, other people, and themselves.

Question 4

Critical Theories

Answer 4

Theories that focus on the power relations that underlie the creation of social rules, and that have an interest in emancipation and social justice.

Question 5

Symbolic Interactionism

Answer 5

The theoretical perspective that describes society as composed of social interaction, which occurs via communication through symbols; the foundation for all interpretive theories.

Question 6

Role Taking

Answer 6

In symbolic interactionist theory, the process by which we vicariously place ourselves in the roles of others in order to see the world from their points of view, which then influences our own attitudes and actions.

Question 7

Looking-Glass Self

Answer 7

According to symbolic interactionist theory, the process by which our assumptions about what other people think of us influences what we think about ourselves and how we look or act.

Question 8

Significant Others

Answer 8

In symbolic interactionist theory, people who are personally important to us.

Question 9

Generalized Other

Answer 9

In symbolic interactionist theory, our perception of the viewpoints if generic “people” in society.

Question 10

Labelling Theory

Answer 10

Interpretive theories that describe the process by which individuals are labelled as deviant, which then has implications for how other treat them and their own subsequent behaviours and identities.

Question 11

Straightedge

Answer 11

Abstaining from self-indulgent aspects of life.

Question 12

Tagging

Answer 12

In Tannenbaum’s labelling theory, the deviant label that we initially attach to an individual’s behaviour.

Question 13

Dramatization of Evil

Answer 13

In Tannenbaum’s labelling theory, the judgment that it is no longer a particular behaviour that is deviant, but rather it is the person her or himself that is deviant.

Question 14

Give an example of how tagging can lead to a dramatization of evil.

Answer 14

If someone does something evil (tagging), they can become considered as an evil person (dramatization of evil).

Question 15

Primary Deviance

Answer 15

In Lemert’s labelling theory, the occasional rule breaking everyone engages in, which is seldom noticed and rarely caught.

Question 16

Secondary Deviance

Answer 16

A lifestyle and identity based on chronic rule breaking.

Question 17

Master Status

Answer 17

A core characteristic by which others identify a person.

Question 18

Stigmatization

Answer 18

The process of exclusion that follows a deviant master status.

Question 19

Dramaturgy

Answer 19

The interpretive school of thought that suggests social life is similar to performing in the theatre, wherein individuals have front-stage selves and back-stage selves.

Question 20

Front-Stage Selves

Answer 20

In the dramaturgical approach, the social roles people play when when in front of a variety of audiences.

Question 21

Back-Stage Selves

Answer 21

In the dramaturgical approach, individuals’ identities and behaviours when they are no longer in front of any audience, but rather are alone or with those who are closest to them.

Question 22

Spoiled Identity

Answer 22

In the dramaturgical approach, the stigmatization faced when an individual assumes a deviant role on the front stage.

Question 23

Identity/Impression Management

Answer 23

Techniques used by individuals to manage their stigmatization.

Question 24

What are some techniques for identity or impression management?

Answer 24

Humour, educating, defiance, cowering, passing.

Question 25

Disintegrative Shaming

Answer 25

The process by which deviantized persons are rejected by the community.

Question 26

Reintegrative Shaming

Answer 26

Individuals are temporarily stigmatized for their deviant acts, but then accepted back into the community.

Question 27

Tertiary Deviance

Answer 27

Following a person’s transition to secondary deviance, his or her efforts to resist a deviant label and instead redefine normal in a way that includes the deviantized behaviour or characteristic.

Question 28

Deviant Career

Answer 28

An interpretive theory of deviance that claims deviance emerges, progresses through stages, and changes over time, similar to the developmental stages of a career.

Question 29

Career Contingencies

Answer 29

In the theory of the deviant career, significant turning points that influence the directions that people take at various points in the deviant career.

Question 30

What is the primary criticism of interpret theories?

Answer 30

Fail to address the social structure and its role in the processes surrounding deviance and normality.

Question 31

Three criticisms of labelling theories:

Answer 31

1. Only studies youth.
2. Only formal labels studied.
3. Transition from primary to secondary deviance not addressed.

Question 32

How has research integrated interpretive theories with other nonstructural positivist theories in the context of exotic dancers?

Answer 32

Dividing the social world, techniques of neutralization, denial of injury, appeal to higher loyalties, condemning the condemners.

Question 33

It has been suggested that interpretive theories are not, in fact, theories and are more like…

Answer 33

Processes.

Question 34

Critical Theories

Answer 34

Theories that focus on the power relations that underlie the creation of social rules, and that have an interest in emancipation and social justice.

Question 35

Praxis

Answer 35

The Marxist view that social scientists have a responsibility to use their work in pursuit of practical, emancipatory goals.

Question 36

Bourgeoise

Answer 36

In Marxist conflict theory, the owners of the means of economic production.

Question 37

Proletariat

Answer 37

In Marxist conflict theory, the employees of the owners of the means of production.

Question 38

Instrumental Marxism

Answer 38

A form of Marxism that proposes social rules are created to serve the interests of the powerful, becoming tools to control the proletariat.

Question 39

Structural Marxism

Answer 39

A form of Marxism that proposes social rules are created to protect the capitalist economic system and may then be applied to members of the proletariat or bourgeoise.

Question 40

3 commonalities between Marxists:

Answer 40

1. Social rules of not emerge out of consensus but rather out of conflict and serve the interests of the most influential groups in society.
2. Members of powerful groups are less likely to break the rules because the rules were created to serve them.
3. Propose that members of less powerful groups are likely to break rules.

Question 41

Why are members of less powerful groups likely to break rules?

Answer 41

Because (1) their sense of oppression and alienation causes them to act out in rule-breaking ways, or (2) because social rules have defined the acts of the powerless as deviant in the first place.

Question 42

Who came up with conflict theory?

Answer 42

Karl Marx.

Question 43

Pluralistic Conflict Theory

Answer 43

Focuses on multiple axes of inequality that make up the structure of society based on conflicts between various economic, religious, ethnic, political, and social groups.

Question 44

Culture Conflict Theory

Answer 44

Claims that in societies having multiple, diverse cultural groups, there will be multiple sets of norms that may conflict with each other.

Question 45

Group Conflict Theory

Answer 45

Extends conflict assumptions beyond cultural groups to a wide range of other groups. Multiple groups struggle for power.

Question 46

Who did Turk characterize as the two groups struggling in society?

Answer 46

Those who are in position of authority and those who are subject to authority.

Question 47

Ideology

Answer 47

In conflict theories, the worldview held by society’s powerful groups.

Question 48

Hegemony

Answer 48

In conflict theories, the dominant way of seeing and understanding the world, as determined by the ideology of powerful groups and then taught to citizens as common sense.

Question 49

False Consciousness

Answer 49

In conflict theories, the false sense of freedom held by powerless groups.

Question 50

Power-Reflexive Theories

Answer 50

Built on a foundation that emphasizes the intertwining of knowledge and power. All claims to knowledge are socially situated, embedded within relations of power.

Question 51

Discourse

Answer 51

A body of knowledge, or all that is “known” about a particular phenomenon.

Question 52

Panopticon

Answer 52

A prison design that enabled guards to observe prisoners at all times and yet did not allow prisoners to definitively know whether they were being watched or not.

Question 53

How did Foucault use the idea of the panopticon?

Answer 53

He suggested that the process of industrialization and bureaucratization have created a panoptical society. Numerous mechanisms of social control to ensure “normal” behaviour.

Question 54

Feminist Theories

Answer 54

Underscore the fact that the bodies of knowledge and the norms by which we judge deviance and normality vary for women and men.

Question 55

Postmodern Theories

Answer 55

Based on the notion of rejection of overarching theories of society, rejection of social categorization, and rejection of the possibility of truth.

Question 56

Skeptical Postmodernism

Answer 56

A form of postmodern theory that postulates knowledge is not possible and only chaos and meaningless exist.

Question 57

Affirmative Postmodernism

Answer 57

A form of postmodern theory that deconstructs master narratives, overarching theories, or knowledge and focuses analysis on the local and specific.

Question 58

Tenets of postmodernism:

Answer 58

Lack of a moral code and the creation of subjects that are incapable of critical judgement.

Question 59

Focus of conflict theories:

Answer 59

Social structures that create an opposition between the powerful and the powerless.

Question 60

Focus of power-reflexive theories:

Answer 60

Emphasize the intertwining of power relations and claims to knowledge.

Question 61

Focus of feminist theories:

Answer 61

Gender bias embedded in most sociological knowledge claims and the historical oppression of women.

Question 62

Focus of postmodern theories:

Answer 62

“End of the individual” and a rejection of the possibility of “truth.”

Question 63

How have conflict theories been criticized?

Answer 63

Failing to recognize the consensus that does exist in society regarding many laws and rules. More complete theory should be able to deal with both conflict and consensus.

Question 64

What common criticism is there between critical theories and interpretive theories?

Answer 64

More of a process than a theory.