Question 1

What percent of homicides are committed by men?

Accepted Answer

According to FBI data, around 90% of homicides are committed by men.

Question 2

Who suggested that people must have access to illegitimate opportunity structures in order for deviance to occur?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Who suggested that people must have access...

Question 3

Which perspective asserts that people are sometimes exposed to cultural goals that they are unable to obtain because they do not have access to culturally approved means of achieving them?

Accepted Answer

The functionalist perspective, particularly through Robert Merton's strain theory, suggests that societal structures may pressure individuals to achieve cultural goals without providing equal access to the means, leading to deviance.

Question 4

How would sociologists define crime?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists define crime as an act that violates criminal law and is punishable with fines, jail terms, and other sanctions. Crime is not just a violation of cultural norms, but is specifically related to violations of criminal law. The punishment aspect is also important in the definition of crime. Therefore, option B is the best answer.

Question 5

Which statement does NOT describe the relationship between social class and crime?

Accepted Answer

Property crime is more often associated with lower economic status, not specifically the middle class. The other options accurately reflect common observations or theories about social class and crime.

Question 6

What was one of the conclusions reached by the Commission on Systemic Racism in Canada?

Accepted Answer

One of the conclusions reached by the Commission on Systemic Racism in Canada was that Black respondents were much more likely than white and Chinese respondents to report that they had been stopped by the police and more likely to report feeling that police had treated them unfairly.

Question 7

What percent of frauds are committed by women?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What percent of frauds are committed by...

Question 8

Sara,Maria,and Stephanie have skipped school since the end of February,and now that it is approaching end-of-year exams,their teachers,parents,and friends are concerned that the girls do not care.According to social bond theory,what might be the problem?

Accepted Answer

According to social bond theory, the problem in this scenario is likely a lack of commitment. This refers to a lack of investment in conventional goals and activities, such as school and academic achievement. Commitment is one of four elements in social bond theory, along with attachment, involvement, and belief. As the girls have skipped school since the end of February, they are not demonstrating a commitment to their education or other conventional goals.

Question 9

In terms of crime prevention,what theory is most likely to suggest volunteering with Big Brothers or Big Sisters to help develop a social bond with a young person?

Accepted Answer

Hirschi's social control theory suggests that individuals are less likely to engage in crime when they have strong bonds with society, including family, school, and community. Volunteering with Big Brothers or Big Sisters helps to develop a social bond with a young person, which can prevent them from engaging in criminal behavior.

Question 10

Charlie is studying how people learn the necessary techniques,motives,drives,rationalizations and attitudes of deviant behaviour from people from whom they associate.What perspective is Charlie most likely to use?

Accepted Answer

Charlie is studying the learning of deviant behavior through association with others, which is a topic that falls under the symbolic interactionist perspective. This perspective emphasizes the role of social interaction in shaping individual behavior and beliefs. It suggests that people learn the necessary techniques, motivations, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes of deviant behavior through their interactions with others who already engage in that behavior. Therefore, the symbolic interactionist perspective is the most appropriate perspective for Charlie to use in this context.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is most closely associated with strain theory?

Accepted Answer

Strain theory suggests that people may turn to crime when they are unable to achieve culturally defined goals through legitimate means. This may lead to feelings of frustration and strain, which can result in criminal behavior. The other options suggest different factors that may contribute to crime, but they are not directly associated with strain theory.

Question 12

Which phenomena did Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin describe with such terms as criminal,conflict,and retreatist?

Accepted Answer

Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin described the phenomena of delinquent subcultures using terms like criminal, conflict, and retreatist in their theory of differential opportunity.

Question 13

Teachers at Elmwood Elementary have a strict policy on bullying,which prohibits physical,psychological,or emotional abuse of teachers or students.Which term best applies to this process?

Accepted Answer

The policy at Elmwood Elementary is an example of mechanisms of social control, which are processes that encourage conformity to societal norms and discourage deviant behavior. The policy sets clear rules and consequences for those who engage in bullying behavior, which helps to maintain order and promote positive interactions among students and teachers. Mechanisms of retaliation and punishment are more focused on individual justice for a specific act, while mechanisms of deviance refer to behavior that violates societal norms or expectations.

Question 14

Why is labelling theory criticized?

Accepted Answer

Labelling theory is criticized for not explaining what causes the original acts that constitute primary deviance.

Question 15

What is a major weakness in the information contained in Canadian Uniform Crime Reporting (CUCR)system?

Accepted Answer

The major weakness in the information contained in CUCR system is that police statistics always underreport the actual amount of crime. This is because not all crimes are reported to the police, and some crimes that are reported may not be recorded properly. There may also be a reluctance by some victims to report crimes to the police due to fear of retaliation or a lack of trust in the justice system.

Question 16

Drinking alcohol is legal for those over a certain age,while mainlining heroin is not.Who of the following would explain this as people with economic and political power defining as criminal any behaviour that threatens their own interests?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists argue that those in power define certain behaviors as criminal in order to maintain their own interests and control over society. The legal status of alcohol consumption versus heroin use reflects this dynamic, as alcohol is often consumed by those in power while heroin use is seen as a threat to societal norms and control.

Question 17

Which of the following statements best reflects the postmodern perspective on deviance?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements best reflects...

Question 18

How would sociologists define deviance?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists define deviance as behaviours, beliefs, or conditions that violate cultural norms. It is not necessarily a violation of consistent moral codes or the law, as cultural norms vary between societies and can change over time. Therefore, the best choice is C.

Question 19

According to sociologists,how is deviance relative?

Accepted Answer

Deviance is relative because what is considered deviant behavior varies from society to society and can change over time. An act becomes deviant when it is socially defined as such, meaning that it goes against the norms, values, and beliefs of a particular culture or group. For example, the consumption of alcohol may be considered deviant in some religious communities, but not in others. Similarly, same-sex marriage was once considered deviant in many Western societies but is now widely accepted.

Question 20

Which of the following does the text cite as a reason for many employers being reluctant to implement required safety measures?

Accepted Answer

The text suggests that many employers are reluctant to implement required safety measures because the penalties for violating workplace health and safety laws are so light, making it less costly to risk non-compliance.

Quiz 8: Social Class