Sociology Chapter 7
75. A problem with differential association theory is that it a. does not explain how people who are not members of deviant cultures become deviants. b. fails to account for socialization. c. ignores the influence of friends and family. d. does not explain how deviance is learned.
a
30. A policy maker wants to address drug use with therapy. Which of the following is he or she advocating? a. Mass incarceration b. Medicalization of deviance c. Deviance as functional for society d. The idea that street criminals are an exploited class
b
52. A criticism of the functional perspective of deviance is that it a. places too much emphasis on the individual. b. does not explain why some people are able to impose their ideas judgments on others. c. overemphasizes injustice and inequality in society. d. fails to see the good that deviance accomplishes.
b
95. Which of the following problems are both the Uniform Crime Report and National Crime Victimization Survey subject to? a. overreporting b. underreporting c. changing definitions d. stereotypes
b
1. In order for something to be considered deviant, a. it must be against the law. b. everyone in society must regard it as deviant. c. it must violate socially created rules and norms. d. it must have negative consequences.
c
105. What is the pattern of race in prosecution and sentencing for crimes? a. Members of minority groups tend to have greater access to plea bargaining. b. Defendants of minority status and White defendants have about the same rates of conviction. c. African American and Hispanic defendants receive longer sentences than White defendants, regardless of background. d. Although African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to receive the death penalty, they are also most likely to be pardoned.
c
41. The shooting of students and faculty at Virginia Tech in the spring of 2007 fits the pattern of Durkheim's suicide. a. anomic b. altruistic c. egoistic d. fatalistic
c
104. crimes are those motivated by various forms of social bias. a. Person b. Victimless c. Bias d. Hate
d
100. Studies of corporate crime find that a. those who engage in deviant behavior are aware of the consequences their behavior has for others. b. the deviant behavior is part of the routine activities of the corporation. c. the costs to society are overstated in the media. d. newcomers are the most likely to be whistleblowers.
b
106. The FBI views terrorism as: a. a crime that violates international laws. b. a violent action to achieve political ends. c. a necessary evil. d. including bioterrorism but not cyberterrorism.
b
69. What is the original source of symbolic interactionist theories of deviance? a. the Industrial Revolution b. the perspective of the Chicago School c. the work of Karl Marx d. the ideas of Emile Durkheim
b
89. Psychiatrist Thomas Szacz argues that there is no such thing as mental illness, but that a. some situations are just crazy. b. there are only people's reactions to what they perceive as unusual behavior. c. there are psychiatric disorders that are not considered illnesses. d. some people like the attention of the stigma of mental illness.
b
65. A weakness of conflict theory in terms of understanding deviance is that it a. does not address inequity and injustice. b. ignores the importance of the social structure. c. is less effective explaining forms of deviance other than crime. d. does not explain the slow pace at which the legal system changes.
c
78. A high school student acts bored in class and the teacher decides she is a bad student. This teacher discusses the student with other teachers who then treat that student as if she were a bad student. This describes the process of . a. differential association b. cultural transmission c. labeling d. weakening social bonds
c
79. Labeling theorists argue that once a person is labeled deviant a. they will only associate with others who are considered deviant. b. the will no longer share an interest in socially desirable goals. c. it will be difficult for them to reestablish a nondeviant identity. d. they will turn to a life of crime.
c
12. From a functionalist perspective, when punishment of deviant behavior is public it serves to a. reaffirm the collective beliefs and values of the society. b. protect the punishers from any appearance of being unethical. c. reinforce that crime brings one publicity and notoriety. d. encourage future deviant behavior.
a
15. According to the text, the example of attitudes toward smoking in the U.S. demonstrates the concept that a. perceptions of deviance are influenced by social change. b. smoking should not have been considered acceptable. c. laws are needed in order to best define deviant behavior. d. evidence of risk is enough to change behavior.
a
2. The sociological definition of social deviance a. stresses social context, not individual behavior. b. focuses on individual nonconformity. c. recognizes deviance as being the same for all groups and settings. d. argues that definitions of deviance remain the same over time.
a
23. Explanations that emphasize the physical or genetic roots of deviant behavior are referred to as by sociologists. a. the medicalization of deviance b. social disorganization theory c. the social construction of deviance d. social conflict theory
a
29. Durkheim's research on formed some of the framework for the functionalist understanding of deviance. a. suicide b. homosexuality c. altruism d. labels
a
34. suicide occurs when the disintegrating forces in the society make individuals feel lost or alone. a. Anomic b. Altruistic c. Egoistic d. Situational
a
45. According to Merton, members of the are most likely to experience the structural strain that produces deviance. a. lower-class b. working-class c. middle-income d. upper-income
a
49. Social control theory is based on the assumptions that a. there is a common value system and most people feel some impulse toward deviance. b. those with the most power in society define what is considered deviant or not. c. deviance is a process of labeling. d. deviants agree with the goals of society, but are blocked from achieving them through legitimate means.
a
55. A significant difference between functionalist and conflict theory is that a. functionalism assumes the system works for the good of the whole, and conflict theory does not. b. functionalists focus more on the social structure than conflict theorists do. c. functionalism pays more attention to the individual than conflict theory does. d. functionalism ignores the role of deviance in society, while this is a focus for conflict.
a
59. Conflict theorists argue that a. the power to define deviance is an important form of social control. b. how much power a group possesses has no effect on whether its members will be labeled deviant. c. all groups in a society are equally subject to social control. d. labels of deviance have nothing to do with social control.
a
7. When a student violates customary norms, s/he is engaging in . a. informal deviance b. formal deviance c. labeling d. mental illness
a
91. What is the sociological relationship between deviance and stigma? a. People who are stigmatized are frequently labeled as deviant. b. People who are stigmatized are not labeled deviant, but may still be looked down on. c. When someone is stigmatized the label of deviant is not applied as it would be in other circumstances. d. There is no relationship between deviance and stigma.
a
25. Smoking as deviant emerged due to what social reality? a. informal deviance b. social movements c. labeling d. fashion
b
31. Durkheim believed that the causes of suicide were a. best explained by the problems a person was facing. b. found in the social environment. c. the result of individual problems. d. the direct result of emotional stress.
b
35. Durkheim referred to suicide associated with excessive regulation of individuals by social forces as . a. anomic suicide b. altruistic suicide c. egoistic suicide d. situational suicide
b
36. According to many, the actions of the hijackers involved in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks are an example of . a. anomic suicide b. altruistic suicide c. egoistic suicide d. situational suicide
b
4. Sociologists would consider crime to be a form of deviance. a. informal b. formal c. situational d. inherent
b
40. When teens perceive themselves as deviant because of who they are, they are using which sociological perspective? a. conflict b. symbolic interactionist c. functionalist d. psychology
b
43. When the goals are accepted and the means of attaining the goals are made available to the individual via the social structure, Merton called this . a. innovation b. conformity c. ritualism d. retreatism
b
54. From a conflict perspective, all of the following at true, except, a. deviance results from inequality in society. b. powerless groups may be labeled deviant for small infractions c. deviance reaffirms social solidarity. d. racial minorities are punished more harshly than others.
b
58. The historical persecution of witches is presented in the text as an example of a. the system works for the good of the whole society. b. how dominant groups can exert control by marking some populations as deviant. c. how deviance, in this case persecution of witches, may be functional for society. d. the importance of shared values and beliefs within a society.
b
62. When a population sees itself as a victim of the criminal justice system, it is drawing on which perspective? a. functionalism b. conflict c. postmodern d. feminism
b
81. occurs when a person in a position of authority processes an individual without questioning the rules. a. consensus b. labeling c. exploitation d. social control
b
9. A soldier who kills in battle is not considered deviant, but a murderer is. This illustrates the point that a. killing is not morally deviant. b. whether or not behavior is considered deviant depends on the context. c. soldiers are not judged as harshly as others in the general population when it comes to how they behave. d. military law supersedes civil law.
b
90. A is an attribute that is socially devalued and discredited. a. master status b. stigma c. deviant career d. nonconforming behavior
b
16. From a sociological standpoint, the situation of the rugby team stranded for months in the Andes demonstrates that eating human flesh a. is immoral and irrational. b. stems from a psychological disordered behavior. c. may be a rational response to a difficult situation. d. is normal.
c
37. Which of the following is an example of egotistic suicide? a. teen suicide b. suicide bombers c. elder suicide d. suicide for religious reasons
c
38. How do sociologists explain the fact that women have lower rates of suicide than men? a. Women are more fearful in general. b. Women are very hesitant to do harm, even to themselves. c. Women are more embedded in relations of care and responsibility. d. Women have less access to the means for committing suicide.
c
39. Durkheim used the term to refer to the condition existing when social regulation in a society breaks down. a. dysfunction b. culture conflict c. anomie d. egoism
c
51. Which of these statements about functionalist theory is false? a. it focuses on the social structure, not individual action b. it argues that some things that are seen as dysfunctional are actually functional for society c. it explains how social norms first become established in society d. it sees deviance as having a stabilizing influence on society
c
56. When a wealthy and powerful executive engages in deviance representing his or her organization it is referred to as . a. Corporate b. White-collar c. Elite d. Class
c
57. According to the conflict perspective, when the elite in society violate norms or laws they are not considered deviant because a. their deviant behavior is not as damaging to society as that of the lower classes. b. they don't violate norms that affect other people. c. they have the resources to hide or mask their behavior. d. they are punished for slight infractions.
c
6. Which of the following is an example of informal deviance? a. a traffic ticket b. underage drinking c. body piercing d. polygamy
c
60. When labeling theory and conflict theory are linked they explain a. why youth cultures create their own types of styles, such as tattoos and piercings. b. how deviance actually contributes to stability within society. c. why members of oppressed groups are more likely to be incarcerated or institutionalized. d. how deviance is defined.
c
61. Sociologists using a symbolic interaction perspective argue that a physical disability can become . In this case society devalues the status. a. formal deviance b. informal deviance c. a stigma d. a crime
c
66. According to people behave as they do because of the meanings that they give to different situations. a. functionalism b. conflict theory c. symbolic interaction theory d. social control theory
c
74. Youths raised with parents who are deviant are more likely to be deviant themselves. This is an illustration of: a. labeling theory b. functionalism c. differential association d. social control theory
c
76. The perspective that uses a micro approach to deviance includes . a. functionalism b. conflict c. symbolic interactionism d. criminology
c
77. Social labeling theory focuses on who in society can determine that others are deviant and are able to apply sanctions. This aspect of social labeling theory makes it most associated with . a. functionalism b. conflict theory c. symbolic interactionism d. feminist theory
c
82. In their research on the American prison system, Bruce Western and Jeffrey Reiman argue that the prison system is designed to a. train and socialize prisoners into a career of secondary deviance. b. help prisoners repay their debt to society. c. give prisoners marketable skills that will keep them from returning to prison. d. make prisoners more respectable.
c
87. The primary weakness of labeling theory is a. that if overemphasizes social attachment. b. its disregard for the role of those with power in creating deviance. c. it does not explain the reasons for the behavior that comes to be labeled as deviant. d. it overstates the subjective nature of identifying deviance.
c
92. According to some sociologists, when some people are stigmatized a. it helps to elevate their social status. b. they are often overlooked by others. c. it reinforces "normalness" in others. d. it has little impact on their overall identity.
c
33. Anomie, as defined by Durkheim, is frequently referred to as a state of a. euphoria or extreme depression. b. excessive social integration. c. total detachment from society and social forces. d. relative normlessness caused by the breakdown of social influences.
d
46. The Ku Klux Klan and Neo-Nazis are both examples of which type of structural strain? a. retreatism b. ritualism c. innovation d. rebellion
d
5. If a sociologist considered tattoos a form of deviance, they would categorize it as a type of deviance. a. formal b. situational c. anomic d. informal
d
68. Which of these is not one of the factors that symbolic interactionism uses to explain deviant behavior? a. the meanings people attribute to the situation b. how people respond to the meanings of a situation c. the interaction between different groups d. the strength of people's attachment to social norms
d
80. Labeling theorists would explain recidivism among those released from prison as a. caused by the company they keep upon their release. b. resulting from the anger they have at having been incarcerated. c. very rare, but overemphasized in the media. d. caused by the difficulty in changing one's classification as a deviant.
d
17. The sociological studies of gangs in the U.S. has found that a. gang behavior is always extremely deviant. b. joining a gang may be an adaptation to conditions of poverty, racism, and sexism. c. girls who are given too much freedom to make choices about their lives are more likely to commit acts of deviance, including joining gangs. d. family dynamics are unrelated to the decision to join a gang.
b
19. How do sociologists define deviance? a. as any behavior that is extreme and unsettling b. as behavior that violates social norms c. as behavior that matches social values d. they look at what the media focuses on
b
32. According to Durkheim, what factors were responsible for producing suicides? a. a person losing their job b. the degree of integration one has into the structure of society c. psychological stress created from depression d. marital status.
b
83. Which of these statements about deviant identity from a labeling perspective is false? a. A deviant identity usually emerges over time. b. A deviant identity is developed through a process of interaction with others. c. Deviant identity involves how other people view the person labeled deviant. d. A deviance identity is nearly impossible to change.
d
84. Which of the following is false of deviant communities? a. Joining a deviant community closes one off from conventional society and tends to solidify deviant careers. b. Subcultural norms and values reinforce the deviant label both inside and outside the deviant group, thus reinforcing deviant behavior. c. Disapproval of an individual member from the outgroup may only enhance one's status within the in group. d. Deviant communities are often indistinguishable from normative society to outsiders.
d
98. Which of the following is true regarding criminal violence? a. Criminal violence is increasing and is random. b. Criminal violence is decreasing and is random. c. Criminal violence is increasing and is not random. d. Criminal violence is decreasing and is not random.
d
101. Studies of women's participation in crime indicate that a. women actually commit more crime than men if prostitution is included in the statistics. b. women's crimes tend to be extensions of their gender roles. c. the crime committed by women most frequently is child abuse. d. overall rates of crime for women have decreased over the past decade.
b
102. Officers Matthews sees two cars speed by. According to the meter, the drivers were each going ten miles over the speed limit. One driver has light colored skin and the other has dark colored skin. Office Matthews pulls over the darker-color skinned driver. Matthews is using: a. good judgment b. racial profiling c. neutral policing d. randomness
b
103. Racial minorities account for more than of male prisons in the United States. a. one-quarter b. one-third c. one-half d. two-thirds
c
24. Which of the following is an example of the medicalization of deviance? a. gang violence b. use of crack cocaine c. alcoholism d. gender inequality
c
96. The FBI's Uniform Crime Report stresses crimes. a. violent b. official c. index d. victimless
c
13. According to Durkheim, why do societies actually need deviance? a. in order to recognize normal behavior b. to make most people feel morally superior c. to support the existence of a prison system of employment d. in order to shake up society so it can be reorganized in a better fashion
a
20. Psychological explanations of deviance emphasize as the underlying cause of deviant behavior, unlike sociological explanations. a. individual factors b. the context within which the deviance occurred c. the effects of labeling d. patterns of inequality in society
a
22. The recommended solution for alcoholism usually includes some type of treatment and possibly hospitalization. In contrast, the use of crack cocaine is legally punished. The difference may be explained by the fact that alcoholism has been and crack cocaine use has not. a. medicalized b. social constructed c. contextualized d. normalized
a
64. A strength of conflict theory in terms of understanding deviance is a. its insight into the significance of power relationships. b. its ability to see how the entire social system works for the benefit of all. c. its recognition of the importance of shared values and beliefs. d. its benefits in explaining new forms of deviance.
a
67. W. I. Thomas explained deviance as: a. a normal response to social conditions. b. behavior one learns from others. c. behavior frequently associated with crime. d. varied behavior dependent on one's social bonds.
a
70. The University of Chicago sociologist who defined deviance as a normal response to the social conditions in which people find themselves is . a. W. I. Thomas b. Michael Dyson c. Talcott Parsons d. Robert Merton
a
71. According to Sutherland's differential association theory, people become criminals when they a. are more strongly socialized to break the law than to obey it. b. are genetically predisposed to deviate. c. lack the socially approved means to realize socially established goals. d. lack the proper attachment to others.
a
73. Differential association theory explains deviance by a. emphasizing how deviance is culturally transmitted. b. focusing on who has the power to label behavior deviant. c. reference to societal goals and the means of achieving them. d. noting that some people have more power than others to define what is considered deviant.
a
99. According to sociologists studying crime, a. both organized crime and corporate crime have an institutionalized character. b. organized crime is a term that is applied only to the Mafia in the U.S. c. financial loss from street crime is greater than that from organized or corporate crime. d. the media images of crime are relatively accurate.
a
11. According to Durkheim deviance is functional because it a. threatens the social order. b. helps members of society know what is considered normal behavior. c. points up the flaws in how society is organized. d. creates employment for a large number of people.
b
27. Which of these statements about deviant behavior would be considered true from a sociological perspective? a. Some people are just born rebels and deviants. b. Deviance may be an adaptation to the social structures in which people live. c. In most cases there is a medical approach to solving problems of deviance. d. Evolutionarily, humans are predestined to push the limits.
b
28. Functionalist theories of deviance a. fear that deviance creates the breakdown of society. b. view deviance as necessary in order to clarify what the norms of society are. c. believe that punishment of deviance is dysfunctional because it prevents the deviance that is so necessary for society. d. assume that norms are largely meaningless.
b
3. From a sociological perspective a. a specific behavior is either always deviant or always not. b. a behavior may be judged as deviant in one situation but not another. c. all members of society must agree on which acts are deviant and which are not. d. deviant behaviors affect large groups of people.
b
47. Social control theory suggests that deviance occurs when: a. a person is labeled as deviant. b. a person's attachment to social bonds is weakened. c. a person does not have access to legitimate means of reaching their goals. d. social regulations in a society break down.
b
48. According to the social control theory, what is the primary reason that people internalize social norms? a. they fear punishment b. they care what others think of them c. they hope for economic gain d. internalizing norms is biologically determined
b
72. According to differential association theory, people become deviant a. when other means of achievement are blocked. b. by learning from members of their primary groups. c. when they lack attachment to other people. d. in protest over unjust circumstances.
b
8. Which of the following statements about deviance is false? a. Even the most aberrant or odd behavior may be understood if we understand the situation in which it occurs. b. Most deviant actions are deviant no matter what the circumstances. c. Definitions of what is considered deviant behavior may change over time. d. Some actions are only considered deviant when certain people commit them.
b
86. The strength of labeling theory is that it a. recognizes the nature of a shared value system in society. b. acknowledges that the judgments people make about deviance have powerful effects. c. emphasizes economic inequality as the primary source of deviance. d. explains why deviant behavior occurs.
b
94. John want to be a sociology major who studies the social cause of crime. He is majoring in a. Deviant sociology b. Criminology c. Criminal justice d. Victimology
b
10. The study of date rape has found that a. attitudes toward date or acquaintance rape have been stable over many decades. b. most students agree that date rape is the perpetrator's fault no matter how the victim dresses or behaves. c. people with the most traditional attitudes toward gender roles are more likely to excuse a man's behavior if he is accused of date rape. d. nearly all victims of rape come file charges against their assailant.
c
14. In the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, many Americans publicly demonstrated their patriotism. This is an illustration of Durkheim's belief that a. people only mobilize when they feel threatened. b. the definition of deviance is relative to the situation. c. deviance produces social solidarity. d. some societies will not tolerate deviance.
c
18. Which of the following questions would a sociologist not be likely to ask about deviance? a. Why are some behaviors defined as deviant while others are not? b. Why is deviance more common in some social groups than others? c. Why do some types of people act more deviant than other types of people? d. How does the criminal justice system reflect social inequality?
c
26. The primary sociological criticism of the medicalization of deviance is that it a. makes deviance too expensive to cure. b. makes it too easy for members of society to behave in deviant ways. c. ignores the impact of the social structure in the creation of deviant behavior. d. Assumes a trained medical profession.
c
42. Merton's structural strain theory traces the origins of deviance to a. anomie in an individual. b. emotional stress caused by job loss, divorce, and the like. c. the tension between desired cultural goals and the means of achieving them d. the lack of any commitment to cultural goals
c
44. Sociologists theorize that rampage shootings are best understood as . a. caused by socialization b. caused by psychological predispositions c. the combinations of personality and social structural variables d. reactions to gun control
c
50. According to social control theory, deviant behavior occurs a. when the means for achieving culturally approved goals is blocked. b. when people have given up and no longer accept the goals considered desirable by society. c. when attachment to society breaks down. d. as a result of emotional stress.
c
53. Conflict and functionalist theories of deviance share a. an emphasis on individual motivation. b. a focus on how a shared definition of the situation affects deviance. c. an emphasis on the social structure in creating deviance. d. a common understanding of the role of crime and the legal system in defining deviance.
c
63. A weakness of conflict theory is its failure to recognize a. the significance of power in group relationships. b. how the injustices of society produce crime. c. that laws protect most people, not just the affluent. d. the origins of crime
c
85. Sociologists have found that deviant communities a. generally share most of the same values and norms as the dominant community. b. are a source of support for previously labeled people who want to try and return to a non-deviant identity. c. often develop their own emblems, language, and dress. d. exist mostly in large urban areas.
c
88. The perspective of functionalist theory on mental illness suggests that a. mentally ill people aren't necessarily "sick", but are the victims of societal response to their behavior. b. people with the fewest resources are the most likely to be mentally ill. c. identifying behaviors as mental illness serves as a means of reinforcing conformity to societal norms and values. d. mental illness does not exists, only individual responses to oddities.
c
93. Which of the following would be of the least interest to sociologists studying drug and alcohol use? a. How definitions of alcohol and drug abuse change over time. b. Why using one substance is considered more than another. c. The hormone levels of the people most likely to use drugs. d. What social groups those who are most stigmatized belong to.
c
97. Which of the following types of crime is the least likely to be rigorously enforced? a. personal crimes b. property crimes c. victimless crimes d. violent crimes
c
21. Which of the following questions about deviance is more psychological than sociological? a. How is deviance related to patterns of social inequality? b. Was this type of behavior always considered deviant? c. Does pressure from one's peer group encourage this type of deviance? d. What is it about this person that causes them to be deviant?
d
