Exam 1

Question 1

Absolutist Perspective

Answer 1

laws represent collective consciousness. moral codes

Question 2

relativist

Answer 2

deviance is relative, there is multiple definitions of the same act. deviance is socially constructed. Deviance varies based on context (social, cultural, historical, political)

Question 3

main idea of relativist perspective???

Answer 3

nothing is inherently deviant, and anything can be deviant depending on context

Question 4

(Curra) egocentrism

Answer 4

wrapped up in own viewpoint. ones own point of view is the only point of view.

Question 5

(Curra) ethnocentrism

Answer 5

seeing own culture as better than everyone elses

Question 6

why do some forms of deviance spark public outrage while others do not

Answer 6

because those forms of deviance benefit powerful people in society

Question 7

what happens when you call someone deviant?

Answer 7

their is always an implied social context as well as an implied comparison

Question 8

methods of definition

Answer 8

tools used to get people to agree something is deviant (ex: explaining an act was deviant and using specific words such as monster, crazy, etc)

Question 9

harm based definition of deviance

Answer 9

often involves harm of others. Ex: porn victimizes/harms women and children. Binge drinking is deviant because people people get hurt by drunk people

Question 10

disease model definition of deviance

Answer 10

something is deviant because it is bad for ones health. Ex: alcohol is deviant because it is unhealthy or addictive

Question 11

poor taste definition of deviance

Answer 11

something is deviant because it is offensive in some way. Ex: the gross baby shower cake shown in class

Question 12

sin/crime definition of deviance

Answer 12

something is deviant because it offends god or goes against a law

Question 13

legitimate order

Answer 13

social action which involves a social relationship may be guided by belief in existence of a legitimate order. people believe in a legitimate order and orient their action toward it

Question 14

Statistical definition of deviance

Answer 14

statistically deviant compared to everyone else. Basically, you’re deviant because your different from everyone else

Question 15

power and politics with deviance

Answer 15

can be used for political gain, there is a battle between winners and losers. more powerful groups are able to label what is deviant and thus can keep their power.

Question 16

individualistic theories

Answer 16

assume causes of deviance are within individuals and often ignore role of social environment

Question 17

critical theories

Answer 17

focus on power structures and ignore the degrees to which individuals freely choose deviant behaviors or other micro level causes.

Question 18

Demonology

Answer 18

people engage in deviant behavior due to supernatural forces. ex: gods will, or “the devil made me do it”’

Question 19

trait theory

Answer 19

theorizes causes at individual level. traits one has make ppl engage in deviant behavior or cause others to react negatively towards them. ex: body chemistry, disability, etc

Question 20

rational choice theories

Answer 20

people are rational, think in logical manner, therefore they choose to be deviant. people are selfish and pursue own interests even if it harms others. cost- benefit ratio. people will refrain from bad acts b/c threat of punishment makes the cost outweigh potential benefit

Question 21

social disorganization theory

Answer 21

the breakdown of social institutions in a community which fosters deviant behavior because their is less supervision which results in familys being disrupted and schools disordered. Also, a value system supportive of crime is transmitted across generations

Question 22

strain theory

Answer 22

societal forces pressure ppl into deviance. value goals are held out to all members of society (wealth, leisure, etc). there are class differences in accessibility of means needed to reach these goals, thus people use any means possible to obtain goal, even illegitimate ways

Question 23

social learning theory

Answer 23

we learn deviance from our friends, family, and others around us. people around us teach us how and when to be deviant.

Question 24

critical theory

Answer 24

concepts of inequality and power are integral to understanding deviant behavior. states operate to legitimize and protect social arrangements that benefit those profiting from capitalism

Question 25

symbolic interactionism

Answer 25

dichotomies of good and bad are constructed in social interaction. direct observation of social world as its experienced and understood by individuals in it

Question 26

functionalism

Answer 26

society has different parts that contribute to the whole so society works. some amount of deviance is beneficial to society because it clarifies the norms and increases group unity. deviance results from structural strain on society which leads to social change.

Question 27

labeling theory

Answer 27

deviants exist because they are caught and labeled deviant.

Question 28

primary deviance

Answer 28

peripheral to persons identity so does not influence how person views self. its rationalized and dealt with as function of a socially acceptable role

Question 29

secondary deviance

Answer 29

occurs after the deviance inspired a social reaction

Question 30

moral entrepeneurs

Answer 30

officials who are concerned with creating and labeling new categories of deviance

Question 31

phenomenology

Answer 31

only theory that does not focus on criminal behavior, but rather what they are trying to accomplish when they commit and crime and what the emotional component is (what do they feel when they commit this crime)

Question 32

katz (on phenomenology)

Answer 32

1. path of action, 2. line of interpretation, 3. emotional response

Question 33

drift theory

Answer 33

people believe in conventional values, but sometimes drift into deviance. people use techniques of neutralization when being deviant, which is a set of excuses that justify criminal behavior.

Question 34

boundary theory

Answer 34

focuses on social processes by which groups construct boundaries between what is and what isnt considered deviant