Sociology Quiz 6

Examine the graphic depiction above of Robert Merton's typology of deviance. Why do you think that those who embrace both new means and new goals are depicted as being just barely connected to the other types that Merton described? a. They advocate a radical alternative to the existing social order and are trying to break free from everyone else. b. They are the most deviant and the most likely to receive harsh sanctions for their deviance. c. They are typically the most powerful and privileged. d. They seek financial success through unconventional means. e. They are the only people who experience strain between the goals that society says they should work toward and the means available to them.

a

Which of the following are characterized by long-term, intimate, face-to-face relationships? a. primary groups b. in-groups c. reference groups d. secondary groups e. institutional groups

a

How do sociologists distinguish a group from a crowd? a. A group doesn't necessarily share any common attribute. b. A crowd doesn't necessarily feel a shared identity. c. A group doesn't have ongoing social relations. d. Members of a crowd don't interact with one another. e. A group doesn't usually feel a sense of shared identity.

b

The Solomon Asch experiment, in which a group of subjects were asked to compare the lengths of lines, demonstrated that: a. an authoritarian leader can strongly influence group members. b. groups have great power to induce conformity. c. the larger the group is, the less each member has a sense of individual responsibility. d. when people are given a relatively simple task, they're unlikely to conform to a larger group. e. peer pressure emerges when a group's task is relatively difficult or demanding.

b

Which of the following would sociologists consider the best definition of deviance? a. actions that are harmful to society b. violations of social norms c. criminal activities d. immoral or unethical behaviors e. all of the above

b

If you decided that you could never get into a good school and so could never get a good job, you might decide to sell crack cocaine instead as a way to make a living. According to Robert Merton, what sort of deviant would you be? a. a conformist b. a ritualist c. an innovator d. a rebel e. an extremist

c

Which of the following statements would be most convincing to a sociologist if you were trying to explain the shift from A- and B-mode responses on the Twenty Statements Test to C-mode responses? a. Americans have become more and more generous over the years, and their answers reflect a desire to give something back. b. People care less about what researchers think about them, and so are more likely to answer honestly, admitting that they've always been selfish. c. The accelerated pace of social change makes it increasingly difficult to think about the self in terms of group membership. d. There was a fundamental shift in individual values and psychology that led to a long-term change in American social structure. e. Increases in religiosity make more and more people want to define themselves in global or universal terms.

c

Angela's mother says to her, "I don't want you to hang around with Melissa. She's going to be a bad influence on you." The mother may not know it, but she's subscribing to which theory? a. structural functionalism b. conflict theory c. labeling theory d. differential association theory

d

Emile Durkheim worried that, in an increasingly fragmented modern world, individuals would feel less and less connected to groups, which would lead to: a.increasing reliance on technology. b. the rise of hate groups. c. a need for new types of etiquette. d. anomie, or normlessness. e. unemployment.

d

If an upper-middle-class white college student is sentenced to rehab for the same drug crime that a lower-class black man is sentenced to jail for committing, what might a conflict theorist conclude about deviance? a. Differential levels of punishment are functional, as they keep the most productive members of society out of jail. b. We need to punish criminals from the lower class more harshly, as they are more likely to re-offend. c. The two criminals probably had very different motives for committing their crimes, and this explains the difference in punishment. d. The rules are applied unequally, and those with power or influence are punished much less harshly. e. The system makes occasional errors, but most of the time, everyone is treated equally.

d

What is the danger of too much group cohesion? a. It leads to endless rounds of discussion that tend to preclude any real action. b. It makes group members more susceptible to anomie and normlessness. c. It reduces the degree to which members are attracted to the group. d. It can lead to groupthink, where dissenting opinions are strongly discouraged. e. It makes it much harder for the group to achieve goals.

d

What is the strongest type of conformity that can occur as a result of social influence or peer pressure? a. abnegation b. identification c. coercion d. internalization e. compliance

d

Basically, no one chooses to be called a deviant. true or false

false

Deviance is an objective or unchanging phenomenon that transcends culture, history, and situational context. true or false

false

According to structural functionalist theory, the function of deviance is to help clarify moral boundaries and affirm social norms. true or false

true