Chapter 6

Question 1

Which of the following statements is least true of deviance?

a. Deviance is an absolute within any respective culture.
b. Deviance is any violation of norms.
c. It is not the act itself, but the reaction to the act that makes something deviant.
d. What is deviant to some is not deviant to others.

Answer 1

a. Deviance is an absolute within any respective culture.

Question 2

A violation of rules that have been written into law and enforced by the state is called a/an:

a. morals violation.
c. rationalization.
b. crime.
d. sanction.

Answer 2

.

Question 3

Howard S. Becker stresses the sociological perspective that deviance is

a. established by the act itself, not the reaction of others.
b. a violation of the formal, written laws of a society.
c. defined by the same guidelines in every modern culture.
d. defined by the reaction of others to the act.

Answer 3

.

Question 4

Which statement is least true regarding norms?

a. Certain groups function quite well without having norms
b. Norms make social life predictable.
c. Without norms, there would be social chaos.
d. Norms are relative and not absolute.

Answer 4

.

Question 5

Sentencing an armed robber to a lengthy prison sentence is an example of a:

a. positive sanction. b. positive reaction.
c. negative sanction. d. negative reaction.

Answer 5

.

Question 6

The term “stigma” is usually associated with the sociologist:

a. Howard Becker. c. Robert Merton.
b. Erving Goffman. d. Karl Marx.

Answer 6

.

Question 7

Social control refers to the:

a. formal means for enforcing norms.
b. informal means for enforcing norms.
c. characteristics that discredit people.
d. both “a” and “b”.

Answer 7

.

Question 8

In looking for the explanation for deviance, psychologists focus upon:

a. the structure of society.
b. personality disorders within the individual.
c. genetic predispositions. d. theories of group behavior.

Answer 8

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Question 9

Sociobiologists explain deviance:

a. by assuming that people have genetic predispositions to becoming deviant.
b. by understanding the cultures within which people act.
c. through psychological tests.
d. through macrosociological perspectives only.

Answer 9

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Question 10

The theory that explains deviant behavior as a learning process that takes place in close, intimate groups is:

a. labeling theory.
c. differential association theory.
b. control theory. d. containment theory.

Answer 10

.

Question 11

The concept of “techniques of neutralization” that are used by deviants to maintain a positive self image was developed by:

a. Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin.
b. Marvin Wolfgang and Franco Ferracuti.
c. Ben Peters and Thomas Heston.
d. Gresham Sykes and David Matza.

Answer 11

.

Question 12

All of the following are techniques of neutralization EXCEPT:

a. denial of a victim.
b. denial the act occurred.
c. denial of responsibility.
d. denial of a right to appeal to higher loyalties.

Answer 12

.

Question 13

Jeremy has been shoplifting small items, such as pens, pencils, and markers, from the college bookstore. He feels he is “borrowing” items from the bookstore that will never be missed or negatively affect the bookstore profits since it is such a few dollars worth of merchandise. Jeremy is employing the techniques of neutralization called:

a. denial of responsibility.
c. condemn the condemners.
b. denial of injury.
d. appeal to higher loyalty.

Answer 13

.

Question 14

According to Chambliss, the most important characteristic distinguishing the Saints from the Roughnecks was their:

a. rates of truancy. b. social class.
c. rate of vandalism. d. race and ethnicity.

Answer 14

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Question 15

According to ___________________ deviance may actually provide a functional benefit for society.

a. Emile Durkheim b. Karl Marx
c. Max Weber d. Robert Merton

Answer 15

.

Question 16

Functionalists like Emile Durkheim believe deviance:

a. hinders social unity.
b. promotes social change.
c. confuses what a society’s moral boundaries entail.
d. negates societal norms.

Answer 16

.

Question 17

A sense of normlessness that is the basis of strain theory is called:

a. anomie. b. social control.
c. differential association. d. class conflict.

Answer 17

.

Question 18

Which sociologist developed strain theory?

a. Emile Durkheim b. Richard Cloward
c. Lloyd Ohlin d. Robert Merton

Answer 18

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Question 19

according to strain theory, people who accept the goals of society but who use
Illegitimate means to try to achieve them would be classified as:
a. a conformist. b. an innovator.
c. a retreatist. d. a rebel.

Answer 19

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Question 20

The \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ perspective contends that the criminal justice system focuses its
Energies on the working class.
a. functionalist
b. symbolic interactionists
c. conflict d. labeling

Answer 20

.

Question 21

Which statement is least true of the conflict perspective as it pertains to deviance?

a. Law is viewed as an instrument of oppression.
b. The rich and powerful are able to bypass the court system.
c. Laws reflect the consensus of society.
d. The power elite controls the criminal justice system.

Answer 21

.

Question 22

Conflict theorists believe that in the U.S. criminal justice system:

a. there is a significant focus on crimes by owners of corporations.
b. the law does not operate impartially.
c. the capitalist class is totally ignored in terms of being prosecuted for crime.
d. courts imprison more white-collar crime offenders than street crime offenders.

Answer 22

.

Question 23

_____________ is the most extreme measure the state takes.

a. Recidivism
b. Rehabilitation
c. Community service
d. Capital punishment

Answer 23

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Question 24

The recidivism rate, which is the percentage of former prisoners who are rearrested is:

a. high.
b. very low.
c. unable to be calculated.
d. uncertain.

Answer 24

.

Question 25

_______ refers to any violation of norms from Speeding to Murder.

Answer 25

Deviance

Question 26

Because different groups have different ______, what is deviant to some is ___ deviant to others.

Answer 26

norms - not

Question 27

The name given to the violation of rules that have been written into to law is ______.

Answer 27

crime

Question 28

Deviance to Sociologists is a term that is used non-___________ and refers to any ___ that people respond ______ to.

Answer 28

judgmentally - act - negatively

Question 29

The term ______ refers to Characteristics that _______ people.

Answer 29

stigma - discredit

Question 30

_____ bring about social _____, a groups customary social arrangements.

Answer 30

Norms - order

Question 31

______ and _______ sanctions or used when either expressing disapproval towards _______ or rewarding conformity to _____.

Answer 31

Negative - positive - deviance - norms

Question 32

Sociobiologists explain deviance by looking within __________ assuming a _____ predisposition leads individuals to juvenile _______ and _____.

Answer 32

individuals - genetic - delinquency - crime.

Question 33

Acts of ______ crime include _______, rape and _______.

Answer 33

street - mugging - burglary

Question 34

_______ theorists stress that deviance does not come from ________ propensities alone (the bio part) but is also modified and _______ by our ________ (the social part).

Answer 34

Biosocial - inherited - stimulated - environment

Question 35

Psychologists examine _________ disorders supposing ________ individuals have _________ personalities.

Answer 35

personality - deviating - deviating

Question 36

Sociologists search for factors ______ the individual looking for influences that “____” people to break _____.

Answer 36

outside - recruit - norms

Question 37

To explain deviance _________ use 3 perspectives:

1. Symbolic ____________
2. __________
3. _______ Theory

Answer 37

Interactionism - Functionalism - Conflict