Deck 1: Determining Deviance

Question 1

One of the limitations of defining deviance on the basis of a negative societal reaction is that there are usually varying reactions to the same act, wherein different groups of people in society have different opinions on the same issue.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Defining deviance on the basis of statistical rarity is more common in everyday conversation than in scientific research.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The fact that left-handedness is considered acceptable in Canadian society suggests that there are limitations to defining deviance on the basis of statistical rarity.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

A question that some people raise about defining deviance on the basis of societal reaction is whether some people's reactions (e.g. the Prime Minister's)count more than other people's reactions (e.g. a homeless person's).

Question 5

According to the definition of deviance that emphasizes harm, something is "deviant" only if it harms someone else rather than oneself.

Question 6

Definitions of deviance include people that individuals do not like, as well as characteristics that society has defined as 'wrong'.

Question 7

Criminal laws, which define the social norms and subsequent behaviours that are deemed deviant, are born from consensus.

Question 8

In the 19^th century women's groups attempted to reduce alcohol consumption, claiming it to be the "demon liquor". From the perspective of deviance specialists, these women were an example of moral entrepreneurs.

Question 9

One of the limitations of using harm as the defining characteristic of deviance is that perceptions of harm change over time.

Question 10

In the early 20^th century, social activist Emily Murphy claimed that marijuana use caused extreme violence, insanity, and death. When we evaluate her claims today, we can see one of the limitations of defining deviance on the basis of negative societal reaction.

Question 11

According to some deviance specialists, recent definitions of deviance have largely come to accept the notion of an observable characteristic that all "deviants" share.

Question 12

According to the textbook author, the greatest degree of understanding of deviance comes from combining both more objective and more subjective approaches.

Question 13

The "deviance dance" is of particular interest to deviance specialists who lean toward the subjective end of the objective-subjective continuum.

Question 14

Deviance specialists who focus on the more subjective aspects of deviance analyze the perceptions of and reactions to deviant acts, rather than the deviant acts themselves.

Question 15

Many contemporary definitions of deviance combine both objective and subjective elements.

Question 16

A century ago, doctors claimed that masturbation caused acne, hairy palms, and insanity. When we consider these claims today, we can see one of the limitations of defining deviance on the basis of harm.

Question 17

Under leader Stephen Harper, the Conservative Party of Canada held free votes in Parliament (as a proxy for societal reaction)on the two "hot-button" issues of the day-same sex marriage and the decriminalization of marijuana.

Question 18

The alcohol industry itself has the power to influence government alcohol policies.

Question 19

According to subjective definitions of deviance, the presence of specific observable characteristics tells us whether someone is deviant.

Question 20

Because most Canadians disapprove of heroin use, we can say that heroin use is "deviant", according to the definition of deviance that emphasizes negative societal reaction.

Question 21

The idea of 'relativism' when looking at norms in society is more common in modern objectivist deviance research then it is in the earlier absolute objectivist research.

Question 22

Josh is a boy in Grade 11 who has never made out with a partner. According to which definition of deviance would Josh be considered "deviant"?

A)physical harm
B)societal reaction
C)statistical rarity
D)normative violation
E)ontological harm

Question 23

Which of the following behaviours, characteristics, or people was considered "deviant" at some point in history, based on the concept of harm?

A)Joan of Arc
B)masturbation
C)marijuana use
D)early 20th century feminists
E)Joan of Arc, masturbation, marijuana use, and early 20th century feminists were all considered "deviant" at some point in history, based on the concept of harm

Question 24

What are the limitations of definitions of deviance that emphasize statistical rarity?

A)some statistically common characteristics are considered "deviant" in society
B)some statistically rare characteristics are considered "normal" in society
C)there is too much consensus and too little debate about the precise meaning of "rare"
D)the law (i.e. as seen in the Criminal Code)reflects power and vested interests rather than normative consensus
E)some common characteristics are considered "deviant", and some rare characteristics are considered "normal" in society

Question 25

Dressing in a suit when going to a job interview would be an example of retroactive social control.

Question 26

Which of the following behaviours or characteristics would be considered "deviant", based on the concept of harm?

A)smoking
B)alcoholism
C)criminal behaviour
D)emotional abuse
E)smoking, alcoholism, criminal behaviour, and emotional abuse would all be considered "deviant," based on the concept of harm

Question 27

Under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, on which of the following issues was a free vote held within Parliament, as a proxy for societal reaction?

A)toughening the Youth Criminal Justice Act
B)decriminalization of marijuana
C)same-sex marriage
D)abortion
E)free votes were held on both same-sex marriage and the decriminalization of marijuana

Question 28

The __________/__________ dichotomy has traditionally served as the foundation for discussing definitions of deviance.

A)objective/subjective
B)singular/pluralistic
C)dissensus/consensus
D)social typing/constructionist
E)statistical/normative

Question 29

What was the primary reason given for the criminalization of marijuana possession in the 1920s?

A)normative violation
B)statistical rarity
C)negative societal reaction
D)harm
E)harm and statistical rarity

Question 30

The objective-subjective dichotomy is the dominant way of analyzing deviance in contemporary research.

Question 31

Research has consistently found that "a strong majority" of Canadians approve of the decriminalization of marijuana, yet marijuana possession remains illegal. This fact points to the limitations of defining deviance on the basis of

A)normative violation.
B)statistical rarity.
C)social harm.
D)negative societal reaction.
E)the "social contract hypothesis".

Question 32

Imagine the following hypothetical news headline: "More than 70% of Canadians dislike people who drink cheap beer." Based on this report, we can say that drinking cheap beer is "deviant", according to the definition of deviance that emphasizes

A)normative violation.
B)negative societal reaction.
C)statistical rarity.
D)the "social contract hypothesis".
E)social harm.

Question 33

What are the limitations of defining deviance on the basis of harm?

A)perceptions of harm can be subjective
B)perceptions of harm rarely change over time
C)behavioural expectations are frequently characterized by power and vested interests
D)typical behaviours are sometimes perceived as "deviant" in society
E)the reactions of some groups of people in society often carry more weight than do the reactions of other groups

Question 34

Which of the following groups of people would be considered "deviant", based on the concept of statistical rarity?

A)Canadians who smoke
B)high school students who participate in "heavy petting"
C)adolescent consumers of alcohol who have engaged in binge drinking
D)adolescents who abstain from marijuana use
E)Canadians who smoke and high school students who participate in "heavy petting" would both be considered "deviant", based on the concept of statistical rarity

Question 35

What do deviance specialists who follow the objective side of the objective/subjective dichotomy believe is the defining characteristic of deviance?

A)normative violation
B)negative societal reaction
C)harm
D)statistical rarity
E)each of the above characteristics is considered to be the defining characteristic of deviance by particular groups of objectivists

Question 36

According to social constructionism, the individual behaviour is the primary concern of sociological research.

Question 37

When considering the role of the nun's habit in contemporary religious orders, we see an example of

A)debates over harm.
B)statistical rarity as a definition of deviance.
C)normative violation as a definition of deviance.
D)absolutism.
E)debates over societal reaction.

Question 38

When looking at deviance from a social constructionist point of view, we are most interested why someone becomes deviant.

Question 39

What view of normative violation is held by more recent objectivists?

A)the "soft" or "contextual" view
B)the "constructionist" view
C)the view that emphasizes universal laws based on the word of God
D)the view that emphasizes the culturally- and historically-specific nature of norms
E)the view that emphasizes universal norms based on the laws of nature

Question 40

Which of the following examples reflects the limitations of using statistical rarity as the defining characteristic of deviance?

A)Wayne Gretzky is not considered "deviant" in Canadian society
B)left-handed people are not considered "deviant" in Canadian society
C)"heavy petting" among teenagers is socially controlled in Canadian society
D)people who are physically active are not considered "deviant" in Canadian society
E)the limitations of using statistical rarity as the defining characteristic of deviance are reflected by all of the above statements

Question 41

While riding the subway, you look at a fellow passenger and immediately think, "Skinhead". Which part of the social typing process have you just engaged in?

A)evaluation
B)stigmatization
C)description
D)prescription
E)formal regulation

Question 42

Proponents of which view of law would point out that middle class youth are less likely to be penalized for the same crimes than are youth of the lower class?

A)contractual
B)normative
C)consensual
D)conflict
E)non-egalitarian

Question 43

According to the ________ view, there are specific norms and values that are universal and inherently right / wrong.

A)Absolutist
B)Relativist
C)Subjectivist
D)Objectivist
E)Both A and D

Question 44

The __________ view of law claims that society's powerful define the criminal law on behalf of interest groups in society.

A)interactionist
B)conflict
C)normative
D)consensual
E)social power

Question 45

Why does the textbook author suggest that contemporary analyses of deviance transcend the notion of an objective/subjective dichotomy?

A)many contemporary definitions of deviance combine both objective and subjective elements
B)over time, "objective" researchers have begun integrating more subjectivism into their analyses
C)over time, "subjective" researchers have begun integrating more objectivism into their analyses
D)the processes by which something is socially constructed as "deviant" frequently includes references to objectivist notions (e.g. statistical rarity; social harm)
E)contemporary analyses of deviance transcend the notion of an objective/subjective dichotomy for all of the reasons listed above

Question 46

Which component of the social typing process involves placing an individual into a specific category because of an observed or presumed characteristic?

A)evaluation
B)stigmatization
C)description
D)prescription
E)discrimination

Question 47

Which of the following groups of moral entrepreneurs has the most overt power in modern state systems?

A)religious institutions
B)scientists
C)commercial enterprise
D)politicians
E)educational institutions

Question 48

You see someone who is "obese" at the mall, and assume that she is unintelligent and is low in self-esteem, yet likely has a good sense of humour. Which step in the social typing process have you engaged in by making these assumptions?

A)evaluation
B)prescription
C)description
D)formal regulation
E)discrimination

Question 49

Which of the following approaches to social constructionism claims that "there is no essential reality to the social world at all"?

A)radical
B)soft
C)contextual
D)fundamentalist
E)ontological

Question 50

Azra arrives at school with a new haircut. As she walks down the hall, she hears people laughing and making comments about her hair. What type of regulation or social control has occurred?

A)retroactive
B)formal
C)preventative
D)informal
E)retroactive and informal

Question 51

Which of the following concepts is located at the extreme "objective" end of the objective-subjective continuum?

A)concept of contextual constructionism
B)concept of an absolute moral order
C)concept of low-consensus deviance
D)concept of radical constructionism
E)concept of social power

Question 52

Which view of law claims that criminal laws are created by the powerful to serve their own interests?

A)consensual
B)interactionist
C)power reflexive
D)postmodern
E)social power

Question 53

Galileo's claim that the sun did not go around the earth would be an example of which type of harm, according to the objectivist definition of deviance?

A)Physical Harm
B)Emotional Harm
C)Social Harm
D)Ontological Harm
E)Mental Harm

Question 54

If you violate a folkway, other people will probably think you are

A)immoral
B)evil
C)criminal
D)odd
E)immoral or evil

Question 55

Which of the following statements supports the "absolutist" view of normative violation?

A)premarital sex is "deviant" in Saudi Arabia, but "normal" in Canada
B)all cultures prohibit incest between parent and child, therefore incest is "deviant"
C)taking a human life is "deviant", unless it is in self-defense
D)smoking marijuana was more "deviant" in the 1920s than it is today
E)same-sex marriage is legal throughout Canada, but not throughout the United States

Question 56

A sociologist studying the Canadian criminal code to demonstrate that longer sentences are given to people of lower class for the same crime would like hold a _______ view of the law.

A)Consensual
B)Social Power Perspective
C)Interactionist
D)Phenomenological
E)Relativist

Question 57

In present day Canadian society there are moral entrepreneurs who exert influence and power in the development and enforcement of society's moral codes. Which one seems to particularly influential, in that it acts as both a tool used by other moral entrepreneurs and as a moral entrepreneur itself?

A)educational institutions
B)religious institutions
C)scientists
D)media
E)commercial enterprise

Question 58

What topics are more likely to be studied by researchers who lean toward the "objective" end of the objective-subjective continuum?

A)changing perceptions of masturbation
B)low-consensus forms of deviance
C)debates over how to best control the potential dangers associated with raves
D)the family backgrounds of illegal drug users
E)the role of power in determining which drugs are considered "illegal" in a particular society at a given point in time

Question 59

According to subjective definitions of deviance, serve as the foundation for determining who/what is "deviant".

A)high-consensus norms
B)low-consensus norms
C)dominant moral codes
D)social contracts
E)criminal laws

Question 60

The principle of equality, which is a fundamental Canadian value, influences the social construction of deviance at which of the following levels?

A)interactionist level
B)institutional level
C)ethical level
D)sociocultural level
E)individual level

Question 61

Apply the three components of the social typing process to someone who is a member of a white supremacist group.

Question 62

Explain the multilevel process of social construction as it applies to development of deviant behaviours.

Question 63

Considering the issue of drug abuse, provide an example of each of the following forms of social control: (a)retroactive, formal control; (b)preventative, informal control; and (c)retroactive self-regulation.

Question 64

What is the function of a verbal insult in our daily lives?

A)To formally shame a deviant person.
B)To convey messages of approved attributes / behaviour to individuals
C)To sanction and reintegrate people toward normal behaviour
D)To unnecessarily belittle individuals
E)Both B and C

Question 65

Explain how the 1999 deaths of three Toronto youths at raves resulted in a deviance dance.

Question 66

Describe what moral entrepreneurs are. Provide one historical and one contemporary example of moral entrepreneurs, clearly illustrating how these are examples of moral entrepreneurs.

Question 67

Explain what the objective-subjective dichotomy is, and describe the basic assumptions of each side of this dichotomy. How is the objective-subjective dichotomy different from the objective-subjective continuum, and why does the textbook author suggest that the latter may be a more accurate representation than the former?

Question 68

In the 1980's an advertising campaign "Just-Say No!" was created targeting youth in an attempt to discourage drug use. Discuss which of the moral entrepreneurs were likely involved in this campaign and what each one would have gained from the successful attempt to influence youth behaviour.

Question 69

Identify an example of a deviant behaviour or characteristic that is now considered deviant but was once socially acceptable. Describe 2-3 possible social changes that may have contributed to this shift in normative definition.

Question 70

List the five powerful groups that influence the creation of dominant moral codes in society. For each of those groups, explain how their power enables them to influence the social construction of deviance, and provide an example.

Question 71

Explain how the conception of norms has changed over time for more "objective" deviance specialists.

Question 72

Subjectivists argue that there is no innate quality that is at the center of deviance. They argue that deviance __________.

A)requires high consensus
B)is a process that is taught to us
C)is much less frequent than we often believe it to be
D)is based on social reaction
E)is best studied with quantitative analysis

Question 73

Discuss the concepts of high-consensus deviance and low-consensus deviance as outlined by Thio. Describe a type of behaviour that would apply to each of these concepts.

Question 74

When we interact with people in class and learn how to speak properly in an education setting by their body language and response. This would be a part of which level of social construction?

A)individual
B)interactional
C)institutional
D)Socio-cultural
E)Global

Question 75

Compare the 3 main 'views of the law' identified in your text when discussing norms. Choosing one, create a possible social issue that they would study and what their position might be on that issue.

Question 76

If one was studying the social construction of deviance and was reviewing the social impact of the laws surrounding the age of consent for sex, they would be looking at which level of social construction?

A)Individual
B)Interactional
C)Institutional
D)Sociocultural
E)Macro

Question 77

Describe the four different "objective" definitions of deviance, and give one example of each. For each of those definitions, list one limitation and provide one example of that limitation.

Question 78

Picking someone last to join an athletic team because they are perceived as unathletic is an example of which part of the social typing process?

A)Description
B)Triangulation
C)Evaluation
D)Assumption
E)Prescription

Question 79

Joseph is walking down the street and sees a man sitting down with a sign asking for money. He assumes that the man is likely homeless, determines that he is likely trying to buy drugs and moves to the other side of the street to avoid him. What does this entire encounter represent?

A)studying deviance by looking at harm
B)the deviance dance
C)the social typing process
D)the objective-subjective continuum
E)the global level of social construction.

Question 80

Joanna is generally a good person. However, when she is hanging out with her friends she makes fun of other girls actively because her friends expect her to. This is an example of:

A)societal reaction
B)conformity
C)description
D)statistical rarity
E)objective analysis