Question 1

Which of the following theories offers a view of conformity and deviance that suggests that our connection to members of society leads us to conform systematically to society's norms?
A)Anomie theory of deviance
B)Labeling theory
C)Control theory
D)Theory of differential association

Accepted Answer

Control theory suggests that our connection to members of society, specifically our attachments, commitments, involvement, and beliefs, leads us to conform to society's norms. Deviance occurs when these connections weaken or break down. Anomie theory of deviance suggests that individuals experience a sense of normlessness or disconnection from society which leads to deviance. Labeling theory suggests that deviance is created through society's reaction to certain behaviors, labeling them as deviant and stigmatizing those who engage in them. Differential association theory suggests that individuals learn deviant behavior through their interactions with others who engage in such behavior.

Question 2

Social control carried out by authorized agents-such as police officers,judges,school administrators,and employers-is called
A)neutralization.
B)conformity.
C)informal social control.
D)formal social control.

Accepted Answer

Formal social control is carried out by authorized agents or institutions such as police officers, judges, schools, and employers. These agents have the legal right to enforce social norms and rules through sanctions such as fines, imprisonment, or termination of employment. Formal social control is an important component of maintaining social order and promoting conformity to societal norms.

Question 3

Sanctions are defined as
A)penalties and rewards for conduct concerning a social norm.
B)justifications for deviant behavior.
C)rules made by a government.
D)a loss of direction when the social control of individual behavior has become ineffective.

Accepted Answer

Sanctions refer to penalties and rewards for conduct concerning a social norm. These can come in the form of positive or negative reinforcements, and are used to influence individuals or groups to conform to accepted behaviors within a society.

Question 4

Which of the following is true of deviance?
A)Deviance is objective and set in stone.
B)Deviance is subject to social definition within a particular society and time.
C)Individuals with the lowest status and power define what is acceptable and what is deviant.
D)The definition of acceptable behavior does not evolve.

Accepted Answer

Deviance is not objective or set in stone, but rather subject to social definition within a particular society and time. What is considered deviant can vary greatly across different cultures and historical periods.

Question 5

A label used to devalue members of certain social groups is referred to as
A)deviance.
B)obedience.
C)sanction.
D)stigma.

Accepted Answer

A stigma is a label that is used to devalue and disqualify members of certain social groups. It is usually used to justify discrimination and negative treatment of these individuals. The other options, deviance, obedience, and sanction, do not specifically refer to a label used to devalue certain social groups.

Question 6

Deviance is behavior that
A)always violates the laws of a society.
B)is always illegal.
C)violates the standards of conduct or expectations of a group or society.
D)is always anomic.

Accepted Answer

Deviance refers to behavior that goes against the norms, values, and expectations of a particular society or group. It does not necessarily mean that the behavior is illegal or always violates the law. Some behaviors may be considered deviant in some societies but not in others. Additionally, not all deviant behavior is caused by a lack of social norms or anomic conditions.

Question 7

Jennifer is attending a business luncheon with several corporate executives.At one point during the meal,she reaches in front of another executive for a saltshaker and hits the executive's arm as he is about to put a spoonful of soup in his mouth.The soup spills on his shirt,and he glares at Jennifer.The glare is an example of a(n)
A)norm.
B)folkway.
C)formal sanction.
D)informal sanction.

Accepted Answer

The glare is an example of an informal sanction, which is an unwritten, unofficial way of enforcing social norms. In this case, the executive is expressing disapproval of Jennifer's behavior (reaching for the saltshaker in front of him) through nonverbal communication (the glare). This is not a formal punishment or consequence, but rather a social signal that Jennifer's behavior was not acceptable in that context.

Question 8

Which sociological perspective emphasizes how societies literally could not operate if massive numbers of people defied standards of appropriate conduct?
A)Functionalist perspective
B)Conflict perspective
C)Interactionist perspective
D)Labeling perspective

Accepted Answer

The Functionalist perspective emphasizes the importance of social order and how societies depend on shared values and norms for their survival. If massive numbers of people defied standards of appropriate conduct, social order would be undermined and society would struggle to function properly.

Question 9

Which of the following would be categorized as deviant in the United States?
A)Individuals who are against democratic values.
B)Individuals who dislike school.
C)Individuals with mental illness.
D)Individuals with type A personalities.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following would be categorized...

Question 10

An individual being imprisoned for murder is an example of a(n)
A)formal sanction.
B)value.
C)informal sanction.
D)norm.

Accepted Answer

Imprisonment for murder is a formal sanction, as it is a punishment imposed by the legal system for violating a law.

Question 11

Social control carried out casually by people through such means as laughter,smiles,and ridicule,is known as
A)neutralization.
B)conformity.
C)informal social control.
D)formal social control.

Accepted Answer

Informal social control is social control that is carried out casually by people through such means as laughter, smiles, and ridicule. It is not an official system of control, but rather arises through social interactions between individuals. Neutralization refers to the justification of deviant behavior, conformity refers to the act of behaving in accordance with social norms, and formal social control refers to official systems of control such as laws and regulations.

Question 12

Which sociological perspective would most likely be concerned with the stigmatizing nature of formal social controls that require convicted sex offenders to register with police agencies and have their pictures published in newspapers to make their identities publicly known?
A)Functionalist perspective
B)Conflict perspective
C)Interactionist perspective
D)Global perspective

Accepted Answer

The interactionist perspective focuses on how people interact with each other and how they interpret and attribute meaning to their actions and the actions of others. This perspective would be concerned with how formal social controls, such as requiring convicted sex offenders to register and be publicly known, can stigmatize and negatively impact their interactions and relationships with others. The other perspectives may not prioritize this issue in the same way.

Question 13

Being late for class can be categorized as a(n)
A)deviant act.
B)accident.
C)crime.
D)infraction.

Accepted Answer

Being late for class is considered a deviant act because it violates the norms or expectations of punctuality in a classroom setting, but it does not necessarily break formal laws or rules to the extent of being classified as a crime or a formal infraction.

Question 14

A college student is caught cheating on an exam and is brought before a college-wide disciplinary committee,which decides to expel the student from the school.The committee's action is an example of
A)formal social control.
B)informal social control.
C)neutralization.
D)enforcement of regulatory law.

Accepted Answer

The college-wide disciplinary committee is a formal institution that has been established to maintain the rules and regulations of the college. The decision to expel the student is a formal response to the violation of these rules, which is an example of formal social control.

Question 15

What was the motivation behind Stanley Milgram's experimental study of obedience?
A)To better understand German involvement in the annihilation of Jews in World War II
B)To better understand the deterrence power of the death penalty
C)Self-esteem issues
D)A federal government grant

Accepted Answer

Milgram was motivated by a desire to better understand how ordinary people could have participated in atrocities like the Holocaust during World War II. He designed his experiment to explore the limits of human obedience, with the hypothesis that the majority of people would comply with authority even if it went against their moral beliefs.

Question 16

Clyde is imprisoned for "tagging," or "visual terrorism." The arrest is an example of a(n)
A)formal sanction.
B)value.
C)informal sanction.
D)norm.

Accepted Answer

The arrest is a formal sanction, which is a response to an act that is deemed unacceptable by society and enforced by a formal institution (such as the government).

Question 17

Obedience refers to
A)going along with one's peers,who have no special right to direct one's behavior.
B)compliance with higher authorities in a hierarchical structure.
C)penalties and rewards for conduct concerning a social norm.
D)going along with one's peers,who have no special right to direct one's behavior,as well as compliance with higher authorities in a hierarchical structure.

Accepted Answer

Obedience refers specifically to compliance with higher authorities in a hierarchical structure, rather than simply going along with peers or conforming to social norms. While it may involve penalties and rewards, these are not the defining features of obedience. Choice D includes both obedience and conformity to peers, but obedience is more specifically defined by compliance with authority figures.

Question 18

According to a study by Stanley Milgram,individuals will
A)conform to the attitudes and behaviors of their peers even if such attitudes and behaviors are racist.
B)obey the commands of people viewed as legitimate authority figures,even if the behavior may harm another individual.
C)disobey the commands of people viewed as legitimate authority figures,in most instances,if the behavior may harm another individual.
D)not conform to the attitudes and behavior of their peers if racism is expected.

Accepted Answer

The study by Stanley Milgram known as the Milgram experiment revealed that individuals tend to obey the commands of people viewed as legitimate authority figures, even if the behavior may harm another individual. This was demonstrated through the experiment where participants were asked to administer electric shocks to a stranger, even when they were uncomfortable doing so and the stranger expressed pain. The results of the study showed that most participants obeyed the authority figure, even though they may have had moral objections to the behavior.

Question 19

The term social control refers to
A)justifications for deviant behavior.
B)penalties and rewards for conduct concerning a social norm.
C)techniques and strategies for preventing deviant human behavior in any society.
D)behavior that violates the norms of a group.

Accepted Answer

Social control refers to the techniques and strategies used to prevent deviant behavior and maintain order in society.

Question 20

Which of the following terms refers to going along with one's peers,with peers defined as individuals of a person's own status who have no special right to direct that person's behavior?
A)Labeling
B)Conformity
C)Deviance
D)Obedience

Accepted Answer

Conformity refers to the tendency to go along with the norms and behaviors of a particular social group, especially one's peers. It involves adjusting one's attitudes or behaviors to align with the group's expectations, even if one would not normally behave in that way. Labeling refers to the process of attaching a negative or stigmatizing label to someone based on their perceived deviant behavior. Deviance refers to any behavior that violates social norms or expectations. Obedience refers to following the orders or instructions of someone in authority, even if it goes against one's own beliefs or values.

Quiz 7: Deviance, crime, and Social Control

Which of the following theories offers a view of conformity and deviance that suggests that our connection to members of society leads us to conform systematically to society's norms?

Social control carried out by authorized agents-such as police officers,judges,school administrators,and employers-is called

Sanctions are defined as

Which of the following is true of deviance?

A label used to devalue members of certain social groups is referred to as

Deviance is behavior that

Which sociological perspective emphasizes how societies literally could not operate if massive numbers of people defied standards of appropriate conduct?

Which of the following would be categorized as deviant in the United States?

An individual being imprisoned for murder is an example of a(n)

Social control carried out casually by people through such means as laughter,smiles,and ridicule,is known as

Which sociological perspective would most likely be concerned with the stigmatizing nature of formal social controls that require convicted sex offenders to register with police agencies and have their pictures published in newspapers to make their identities publicly known?

Being late for class can be categorized as a(n)

A college student is caught cheating on an exam and is brought before a college-wide disciplinary committee,which decides to expel the student from the school.The committee's action is an example of

What was the motivation behind Stanley Milgram's experimental study of obedience?

Clyde is imprisoned for "tagging," or "visual terrorism." The arrest is an example of a(n)

Obedience refers to

According to a study by Stanley Milgram,individuals will

The term social control refers to

Which of the following terms refers to going along with one's peers,with peers defined as individuals of a person's own status who have no special right to direct that person's behavior?