Question 1

What has most of the sociological literature on deviance traditionally focused on?

Accepted Answer

Most of the sociological literature on deviance has traditionally focused on crime.

Question 2

The Amish have neither the resources nor the desire to use prison as a sanction against members of their community who violate the rules. What sanction do they use instead?

Accepted Answer

The Amish use meidung, or shunning, as a sanction for rule breakers instead of imprisonment. This means the offender is excluded from the community and members will not associate with them for a set period of time.

Question 3

Some subcultures have adopted branding as a form of body art, though it is no longer used as a form of punishment in the United States. This demonstrates that

Accepted Answer

The fact that branding has shifted from being a form of punishment to a form of body art showcases how societal attitudes towards deviant behavior can change over time. What was once considered deviant and taboo can become accepted and even celebrated by certain subcultures.

Question 4

Which theory suggests that crimes committed by the upper classes are typically treated more leniently than crimes committed by the lower classes because laws represent the interests of those in power?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory suggests that crimes committed by the upper classes are typically treated more leniently than crimes committed by the lower classes because laws and the criminal justice system represent the interests of those in power. This theory asserts that the wealthy and powerful use their influence to shape laws and the criminal justice system in their favor, leading to unequal treatment of different classes of individuals. Differential association theory focuses on how individuals learn deviant behavior from their social environment, principled deviance suggests that people may engage in deviant behavior for moral or principled reasons, and functionalist theory focuses on the ways in which deviance and crime can actually contribute to the stability of society.

Question 5

Corporal punishments like branding or amputation, commonly used in colonial America, were designed to

Accepted Answer

Corporal punishments like branding or amputation were designed to physically mark the offender as a form of public shaming and as a way to deter others from committing similar crimes.

Question 6

________ proposed social control theory, which suggests that individuals with stronger bonds are LESS likely to commit crime.

Accepted Answer

Travis Hirschi proposed social control theory, which suggests that individuals with stronger bonds to society (such as attachment to family or school, commitment to future goals, involvement in activities, and belief in moral values) are less likely to commit crime.

Question 7

Some Americans are angry about how many immigrants enter the country every year. A supporter of structural functionalism would argue that this anger

Accepted Answer

A supporter of structural functionalism would argue that anger towards immigrants promotes social cohesion among nonimmigrants as they come together and label immigrants as outsiders. This labeling helps to reinforce the boundaries between who is considered a member of the community and who is not, which is an important aspect of maintaining social order and stability.

Question 8

Which of the following would sociologists consider the best definition of deviance?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists consider deviance to be the violation of social norms. This includes any behavior or action that goes against the accepted expectations or rules of a particular society or group. Deviance can be relative and varies across different cultures and social groups. Therefore, deviance is not necessarily harmful or criminal, but any behavior that is outside of the norm in a particular social context.

Question 9

A behavior, trait, or belief is considered deviant if it

Accepted Answer

Deviance is defined as departing from a norm, and the negative reaction of others to that departure is a key element of deviant behavior, trait, or belief. While violating a law or causing harm to someone may be considered deviant, it is not a necessary condition for deviance. Similarly, feelings of revulsion or disgust are subjective and not necessarily indicative of deviant behavior.

Question 10

Why was having a hand cut off a typical punishment for a pickpocket in colonial America?

Accepted Answer

Punishing the hand that committed the crime was seen as symbolically appropriate as it was the body part directly connected to pickpocketing. It served as a deterrent to others as well. Amputation was not necessarily seen as the most painful punishment, and it was not always done safely or without risk of infection.

Question 11

Some people worry about maintaining a tan. If they do not have the time to tan naturally, they sometimes go to a tanning salon or use chemicals to simulate a tan. This might seem bizarre in some cultures, which can help us realize that

Accepted Answer

The fact that different cultures have different attitudes towards maintaining a tan helps us understand that what is considered acceptable or desirable in terms of physical appearance is not fixed and can vary across time and place. This sheds light on the fluidity of the line between beauty and deviance. Choice B is incorrect because there are many types of body modifications that are culturally accepted in some societies, such as tattoos or piercings. Choice C is incorrect and reflects a cultural bias that has no basis in fact. Choice D is incorrect because getting a fake tan is not considered deviant behavior in most cultures.

Question 12

Why would using the wrong fork to eat a salad at a dinner party NOT usually qualify as deviance?

Accepted Answer

Using the wrong fork to eat a salad at a dinner party is not a serious enough norm violation to provoke sanctions.

Question 13

Imagine that a powerful and influential person living in San Francisco decides to tattoo most of her face with symbols. Would she be seen as deviant?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Imagine that a powerful and influential person...

Question 14

Imprisonment was a rare type of punishment before the nineteenth century because earlier societies

Accepted Answer

Before the nineteenth century, societies often lacked the resources and infrastructure to build and maintain prisons, making imprisonment a less common form of punishment.

Question 15

Which of the following is true regarding prison as a mechanism for punishing crime?

Accepted Answer

Throughout history, most societies have used forms of punishment other than prison, such as corporal punishment, banishment, or execution. It was not until the nineteenth century that Western societies began to use prison as the primary mechanism for punishing crime. Therefore, option C is true. Option A is incorrect because it implies that prison has been commonly used throughout history when in fact it is a relatively recent phenomenon. Option B is also incorrect because there have been many societies throughout history that, by modern standards, would not be considered humane or ethical, yet still used prison or similar forms of punishment. Option D is incorrect because while imprisonment may be common, it is not necessarily cost-effective given the high cost of maintaining prisons and the fact that rates of recidivism remain high.

Question 16

There are usually serious consequences when a politician is caught cheating on his spouse. In some cases, the politician is forced to resign from office when his constituents express their unhappiness with such behavior. According to Émile Durkheim, what function does this reaction serve?

Accepted Answer

Émile Durkheim argues that the punishment of deviant behavior, such as marital infidelity in the case of politicians, serves to clarify moral boundaries and reinforce social norms. In this case, the public outcry against the politician's behavior reinforces the idea that marital infidelity is wrong, and serves as a warning to other politicians considering similar behavior.

Question 17

John is the CEO of a large bank who is charged with fraud. John pays $13 billion to settle the case, and he does not go to jail. Andy is arrested for stealing money out of a parked car. Andy spends a month in jail while waiting for his trial since he is unable to pay his bail or bond. John and Andy exemplify the perspective of

Accepted Answer

The scenario illustrates the perspective of conflict theorists like Richard Quinney, who argue that the justice system is biased in favor of the wealthy and powerful, allowing them to avoid severe punishment for their crimes, while the less privileged, like Andy, face harsher consequences for lesser offenses.

Question 18

Which of the following describes how deviance can be explained from the functionalist perspective?

Accepted Answer

From the functionalist perspective, deviance can be seen as a way to clarify moral boundaries and affirm societal norms. Deviance allows for a reaffirmation of the values and norms that are considered acceptable in society. By punishing those who deviate from these norms, it sends a message that such behavior is not acceptable and helps to maintain social order.

Question 19

Robert Merton's typology of deviance outlines the strain that people experience as they attempt to access cultural goals through legitimate, institutionalized means. In which of the following categories would gangsters and con artists be found?

Accepted Answer

Gangsters and con artists are classified as innovators in Merton's typology of deviance because they reject the legitimate means of achieving success (e.g. education, hard work) and instead use unconventional and often illegal methods to achieve their goals.

Question 20

In the United States, imprisonment as a method of punishment was rare until the ________ century.

Accepted Answer

Imprisonment as a method of punishment became more common in the United States in the 19th century, as reformers sought more humane alternatives to corporal punishment and the death penalty. Before that, criminal punishment often involved physical mutilation or public shaming, such as pillorying or whipping.

Quiz 6: Deviance