Question 1

A _______ is a set of concepts and statements designed to describe or explain some phenomenon.

Accepted Answer

A theory is a set of concepts and statements that are designed to describe or explain some phenomenon, offering explanations for why things are the way they are and predicting how things will be in the future.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a technique of neutralization?

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed (Denial of injury, Denial of victim, Condemnation of condemners) are recognized techniques of neutralization, a theory proposed by Sykes and Matza to explain how individuals justify their deviant behaviors.

Question 3

Theories which explain how class structures develop in modern societies might best be categorized as _______ theories.

Accepted Answer

Grand theories are comprehensive ideas often proposed to explain how major aspects of societies, such as class structures, develop and function. These theories aim to provide an overarching framework for understanding the complexities of social phenomena.

Question 4

_______ theories assume that societies are characterized by a lack of consensus and that groups disagree on values, beliefs, and interests.

Accepted Answer

Critical theories focus on the idea that societies are marked by conflict and inequality, rather than consensus, and that this conflict stems from differing values, beliefs, and interests among social groups.

Question 5

_______ theories assume that individuals without access to legitimate means to attain socially accepted goals deviate.

Accepted Answer

Strain theories suggest that people engage in deviant behavior when they are unable to achieve socially accepted goals through legitimate means, leading to a "strain" or pressure that drives them to deviate.

Question 6

Which of the following theories is likely to believe that deviant behavior is not caused but rather develops over time as actors and the social audience (such as friends, family, or an entire community) interact with each other?

Accepted Answer

Interactionist theories, particularly symbolic interactionism, focus on how individuals interpret and define their social reality through interactions with others, suggesting that deviant behavior is constructed through social processes rather than being inherently present or caused by other factors.

Question 7

According to Durkheim, deviance was _______ and played an integral role in maintaining a healthy society.

Accepted Answer

Durkheim argued that deviance is a normal aspect of society that plays a crucial role in reinforcing societal norms and promoting social change.

Question 8

This type of suicide is the result of overly strong connections, such as when individuals become intimately merged with a group and kill themselves in its name (e.g., suicide bomber).

Accepted Answer

Altruistic suicide occurs when individuals are so well integrated into a group that they may sacrifice their lives for the group's benefit or in adherence to the group's norms or expectations. This is seen in cases like suicide bombers, where the act is committed in the name of a collective cause or belief.

Question 9

According to Durkheim, when anomie-a sense of normlessness-increases, suicide rates also increase. Which of the following is an example of an acute social condition where anomic suicide rates might increase?

Accepted Answer

Both the Great Depression and the Great Recession are examples of acute social conditions that can lead to increased feelings of anomie, as they disrupt social and economic structures, potentially leading to higher rates of anomic suicide.

Question 10

According to Jolin, prostitution does NOT result from

Accepted Answer

Jolin's analysis suggests that prostitution stems from societal constructs around male promiscuity and female chastity, and the power dynamics that enforce these roles, rather than from women's reluctance to engage in sexual activities within marriage.

Question 11

The organization of deviants is defined based on four variables; which of the following is NOT one of them?

Accepted Answer

The organization of deviants is typically analyzed based on their associations, participation in deviant activities, and the complexity of their interactions, such as the need for an elaborate division of labor. The racial background of a deviant, however, is not a defining variable for the organization of deviants, as it does not inherently relate to the nature or structure of deviant behavior.

Question 12

A type or form of deviant organization where individuals do not associate with other deviants, participate in shared deviance, have a division of labor, or maintain their deviance over extended time and space is considered a _______ .

Accepted Answer

Loner deviance refers to individuals who engage in deviant behavior independently, without the social structure or support of a group. They do not share their deviant activities with others, have no division of labor, and their behavior does not necessarily persist over time and space in an organized manner.

Question 13

Deviant peers not only associate with one another but also participate in deviance together. Which of the following is NOT an example of a deviant peer group?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Deviant peers not only associate with one...

Question 14

Jane Doe was living on skid row before she joined the East Avenue Gang (EAG). Because EAG was very large and operated for years, EAG organized their gang according to a strict set of unwritten rules and codes for guiding members when participating in organizational action. When Jane began, she slung dope on the corner. After two years, she moved up to be the main transaction dealer for large shipments from the Big River. EAG is an example of which of the following type or form of deviant organization?

Accepted Answer

The East Avenue Gang (EAG) is an example of a formal organization because it is described as having a strict set of unwritten rules and codes that guide members' actions, indicating a structured and organized approach to their operations.

Question 15

Special prosecutor in the case of Billy Doe's sexual victimization by a priest in the Catholic Church argued that the perpetrator in the case, Father Holy Roller, was not in himself the entire problem. Instead, the prosecutor argued that it was the opportunity structures of the Catholic
Church as a whole-its recruitment and selection of priests, supervision of priests, guidance by administrators, and the like. This is an example of which common explanation for organizational deviance?

Accepted Answer

The "Rotten barrel" theory suggests that the problem of deviance or misconduct is not just due to individual 'bad actors' (rotten apples) but is systemic, rooted in the structures and cultures of the organization itself. In this case, the prosecutor is arguing that the issue is with the systemic opportunity structures of the Catholic Church, not just the individual actions of Father Holy Roller.

Question 16

Tommy Thompson was talking to his friends at lunchtime at Everyday High School about skipping class to go to the lake. As a senior, Tommy was very tempted, but he knew he had to get a good grade in English to make it into the college he desired, and he had worked very hard all term to achieve an A. Instead of going to the lake, Tommy went to English. This is an example of which element of Hirschi's social bond?

Accepted Answer

Tommy's decision to attend English class instead of skipping to go to the lake demonstrates his commitment to achieving his goal of getting into college, which required him to get a good grade in English. This aligns with Hirschi's element of commitment, where individuals refrain from deviant behavior due to their investment in conventional activities that have positive outcomes.

Question 17

In Lemert's theory of deviance, achieving a deviant label takes more than one act, it takes _______ deviation, which occurs when the community and the so-called deviant starts to define the label as real and react accordingly.

Accepted Answer

Secondary deviation occurs when the community and the individual start to see the deviant label as real and react based on that label, leading to further deviance. Primary deviation refers to the initial acts of deviance before the label is applied.

Question 18

Randle Bane had been skateboarding in the city pool all winter. On Christmas Day, Officer Brady was driving by and saw Mr. Bane doing some serious hang-time in the deep end below the high dive. When Officer Brady approached him and asked him to come to the sidewalk, Randle replied that the neighbors often watched and cheered, and the owners had not complained. Officer Brady told Randle that he could no longer use the city pool as a skate park. Two days later, Randle wore a T-Shirt with "I'll skate where I want" scrawled in marker across the front and back and returned to his normal skating routine. He defied Officer Brady, and he was arrested. This is an example of what type of deviation?

Accepted Answer

Randle Bane's actions represent secondary deviation, as his behavior (skateboarding in the city pool) led to societal reaction (arrest by Officer Brady), and he responded to this reaction by further deviating from societal norms (defiantly returning to skate in the pool). This cycle of act, societal reaction, and further deviation aligns with the concept of secondary deviation.

Question 19

Andy Anderson was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 16 years old but did his best never to reveal this disorder to other kids his age. This is a strategy for stigma management called _______.

Accepted Answer

Concealment and "staying in the closet" are both terms used to describe strategies for managing stigma by hiding one's condition or identity from others.

Question 20

John Doe was standing in front of the broken window with the scolding hand of his father wagging. A baseball sat in the middle of the glass which could be seen scattered on the chair in their living room. When John responded to his father, "I thought we were using the softer ball instead of the regulation ball," John gave which type of account of the situation?

Accepted Answer

John's statement is an excuse because he is attempting to lessen his responsibility by suggesting a misunderstanding about the type of ball being used, rather than justifying his actions or lying about the circumstances.

Quiz 2: Theories of Deviance