Question 1

Americans tends to be most afraid of public-order crimes.

Accepted Answer

Americans tend to be most afraid of violent crimes, such as murder, assault, and robbery, rather than public-order crimes, which include acts like vandalism, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct.

Question 2

Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme is an example of occupational crime.

Accepted Answer

Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme is considered an occupational crime because it was committed in the course of his professional activities and involved the misuse of his position and trust to defraud investors.

Question 3

White-collar crime is costlier than violent crime in money, health, and lives.

Accepted Answer

White-collar crime, which includes fraud, embezzlement, and other non-violent offenses typically committed by individuals in professional settings, often results in massive financial losses, significant impacts on victims' health due to stress and financial ruin, and can even lead to loss of lives indirectly through its consequences (e.g., inadequate safety measures leading to accidents). The aggregate cost of white-collar crimes far exceeds that of violent crimes when considering the broader economic and social impacts.

Question 4

Since the 2016 presidential election, fewer people in the United States believe their government officials are corrupt.

Accepted Answer

Surveys and polls, such as those conducted by Pew Research Center and Gallup, have shown that public trust in government remains near historic lows, and perceptions of corruption in the government have either increased or remained significantly high since the 2016 presidential election.

Question 5

Japan has attained a lower crime rate through its heavy investment in the criminal justice system.

Accepted Answer

Japan's low crime rate is attributed to various factors, including cultural norms, community policing, and social cohesion, rather than solely heavy investment in the criminal justice system.

Question 6

Detention facilities for undocumented immigrants are growing at a faster rate than regular prisons.

Accepted Answer

Detention facilities for undocumented immigrants have seen significant growth, often outpacing the expansion of regular prisons, due to increasing numbers of undocumented immigrants and changes in immigration enforcement policies.

Question 7

What does it mean when sociologists say that deviance can be functional for society? Provide an example.

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Question 8

That which is considered criminal changes over time. Give two examples from U.S. history that illustrate this fact.

Accepted Answer

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Question 9

According to differential association theory, the possibility of becoming deviant depends on four factors. List and briefly discuss these four factors.

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Question 10

Compare and contrast primary and secondary deviance. Provide examples.

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Question 11

How does William J. Chambliss's study of the Saints and the Roughnecks illustrate labeling theory?

Accepted Answer

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Question 12

Control theory asserts that there are four powerful factors that bond people. List and briefly discuss these four factors.

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Question 13

In general, what do conflict theorists believe we need to do to reduce crime? How does this differ from the structural functionalist perspective?

Accepted Answer

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Question 14

How do we know how much crime occurs in the United States?

Accepted Answer

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Question 15

Researchers have yet to come to a consensus as to why crime has declined in the United States since the mid-1990s, but there are several ideas under review. Discuss at least three possible factors for this decline.

Accepted Answer

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Question 16

As minority groups gain notoriety or acceptance in society, they can face more hate crimes. Give an example of each.

Accepted Answer

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Question 17

In the summer of 2010, a deep-water oil rig suffered a major malfunction and began to spew thousands of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The oil spill devastated the gulf's economy, killing wildlife, covering beaches with oil and sludge, and making fishing in the waters hazardous. Investigators discovered that there was possible negligence on behalf of the oil company that owned the rig. How would sociologists categorize this crime? How do rational choice theory and strain theory help explain this crime?

Accepted Answer

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Question 18

What is terrorism? What are the major types of terrorist groups?

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Question 19

How can sociologists understand the difference in crime levels between the United States and Japan?

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Question 20

In 2016, the U.S. Justice Department announced that it would stop using private prisons. What was the reasoning behind this decision?

Accepted Answer

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Quiz 6: Deviance and Social Control: Sickos, Weirdos, and Folks Like Us