Question 1

Seth and all of his close friends are fans of country music, and in part their sense of identity is tied to being fans of that kind of music. When Seth's friends came over to his apartment to visit, they found him listening to one of his mother's jazz albums. They teased him for days afterward. What is the treatment that Seth's friends subjected him to an example of?
A) deviance
B) stigmatization
C) informal punishment
D) criminalization

Accepted Answer

The teasing Seth experienced from his friends for listening to jazz, which deviates from their shared identity of enjoying country music, is an example of informal punishment. It's a social mechanism used to enforce conformity within their group norms without involving formal legal systems.

Question 2

Today, Nelson Mandela is hailed as a hero. This suggests that the social definition of which of the following has changed over time?
A) ethnicity
B) social justice
C) race
D) crime or deviance

Accepted Answer

Nelson Mandela was once labeled a criminal and imprisoned for his anti-apartheid activities, but is now celebrated as a hero for the same actions. This shift reflects a change in the social definition of crime or deviance, illustrating how actions once considered criminal can be reinterpreted over time in light of social justice and human rights advancements.

Question 3

Which of the following types of crimes is least likely to be reported to the police?
A) victimless crimes
B) street crimes
C) corporate crimes
D) legislative crimes

Accepted Answer

Victimless crimes, such as drug use or prostitution, are less likely to be reported to the police because they involve consensual activities where the parties involved do not see themselves as victims or are unwilling to report the crime due to fear of legal repercussions or social stigma.

Question 4

Some acts, such as rape, are generally seen as very harmful and are severely punished. Others, such as tattooing, are commonly regarded as harmless and are not punished. This demonstrates which of the following dimensions of deviance?
A) the importance of the perceived prevalence of the deviant or criminal act in deciding on the severity of the sanction associated with the deviant act
B) the importance of the perceived harm to social solidarity in determining whether a given act is a crime or merely deviant
C) the importance of the actual harm to social solidarity in determining whether a given act is a crime or merely deviant
D) the importance of the degree of public agreement about whether an act should be considered deviant in deciding on the severity of the sanction associated with the deviant act

Accepted Answer

The question is asking about a dimension of deviance, specifically the role of public agreement in determining the severity of sanction associated with a deviant act. Choice D addresses this directly by noting that public agreement about whether an act should be considered deviant plays a role in deciding the severity of punishment. The other choices either address different dimensions of deviance or make statements that are not necessarily true (e.g., Choice A suggests that prevalence alone determines severity of punishment, which is not always the case).

Question 5

Which of the following illustrates committing a crime?
A) Bob burns the Canadian flag on his lawn.
B) Bob parks his car too long at a parking meter downtown.
C) Bob lets the door slam in the face of the person behind him.
D) Bob has a prescription for and uses marijuana for medical purposes.

Accepted Answer

Parking a car too long at a parking meter is a violation of parking regulations, which is considered a minor offense or infraction, thus illustrating committing a crime.

Question 6

Which of the following do people receive when being penalized for breaking a law?
A) social sanctions
B) shunning behaviour
C) formal punishment
D) stigmatization

Accepted Answer

Formal punishment is the most common form of penalty for breaking the law. This includes sanctions such as fines, imprisonment, probation, or community service. Social sanctions, shunning behavior, and stigmatization may also occur as a result of breaking the law, but they are not always considered formal punishments. Therefore, C is the best choice.

Question 7

Among some Inuit communities at the beginning of the twentieth century, allowing newborns to freeze to death was not considered a deviant act. According to the textbook, what does this say about deviance?
A) that it varies over time and across cultures and societies
B) that there are always exceptions to norms
C) that isolated people have different sanctions than modern people
D) that in some societies and cultures immoral behaviour is not always sanctioned

Accepted Answer

The fact that allowing newborns to freeze to death was not considered a deviant act in some Inuit communities at the beginning of the twentieth century demonstrates that deviance varies over time and across cultures and societies. This means that what is considered deviant can change depending on the cultural context and time period.

Question 8

Whether or not a particular act is considered deviant depends upon which of the following?
A) criminal intent
B) the legal definition of the act
C) social context
D) the morality of the behaviour

Accepted Answer

The social context plays a significant role in determining whether an act is considered deviant or not. What may be acceptable in one culture or society may be deemed deviant in another. Therefore, social norms and values determine whether an act is deviant or not. Criminal intent and legal definitions only apply to specific acts considered illegal by the law. Morality, on the other hand, is subjective and varies across individuals and cultures.

Question 9

Why does the textbook assert that "everyone" is deviant?
A) because most people break rules and admit that they are deviant
B) because most people are not as good or law abiding as they would have us believe
C) because what is considered deviant varies across cultures
D) because definitions of deviance are not well understood by people

Accepted Answer

The textbook asserts that "everyone" is deviant because what is considered deviant varies across cultures. This means that actions that are considered normal or acceptable in one culture may be considered deviant in another culture. Therefore, every individual has engaged in behavior that could be considered deviant in a different cultural context.

Question 10

According to the textbook, which of the following is best characterizes the sociological view of deviance and crime?
A) They are only deviance and crime in the eye of the beholder.
B) They are defined differently in different historical periods.
C) They are easy to define.
D) They are easy to understand because people act in the same ways.

Accepted Answer

The sociological view of deviance and crime acknowledges that the definitions of these terms vary across historical periods and social contexts. This is in contrast to the view that deviance and crime are solely in the eye of the beholder or easy to define and understand.

Question 11

Formal punishment is imposed on people who do which of the following?
A) break the law
B) take responsibility for deviant behaviour
C) look guilty
D) behave eccentrically and are unlikeable

Accepted Answer

Formal punishment is typically imposed on people who break the law. This may include criminal offenses such as theft, assault, or drug possession, as well as civil offenses such as breach of contract or negligence. Taking responsibility for deviant behavior and "looking guilty" may be factors that influence a judge or jury's decision to impose punishment, but they are not primary reasons for punishment. Eccentricity and unlikeability are not themselves offenses and would not typically result in formal punishment.

Question 12

Glynnis watches Scott dump a day's worth of tree seedlings straight into a ravine instead of planting them. The company that employs Glynnis and Scott has a strict policy about this action, which is viewed as theft, so Glynnis tells the supervisor what she witnessed. Scott is immediately fired and sent home. Which of the following did Scott receive?
A) an informal sanction
B) a norm enhancement
C) a formal punishment
D) a sanction retribution

Accepted Answer

Scott received a formal punishment, as he was fired from his job due to the violation of the company's policy.

Question 13

In the early 1900s, even though Coca-Cola contained a derivative of cocaine it was perfectly legal and quickly became a very popular beverage. Why is cocaine now an illegal drug?
A) because social definitions depend on what is profitable
B) because it is controlled by off-shore criminal organizations
C) because the perceived harmfulness of cocaine has changed
D) because it is no longer an ingredient in Coca-Cola

Accepted Answer

The perceived harmfulness of cocaine has changed over time. It is now recognized as a highly addictive and dangerous drug that can have severe health consequences, leading to its classification as an illegal drug in most countries. The fact that it was once used legally in Coca-Cola does not negate its current status as an illegal substance.

Question 14

Carl is often picked on at school because he has openly acknowledges that he is gay. Some of the boys in his school taunt him with names intended to hurt his feelings, and he was even assaulted once after school waiting for the bus. Which of the following most accurately characterizes the treatment that Carl is being subjected to?
A) informal punishment
B) formal punishment
C) stigmatization
D) retribution

Accepted Answer

Stigmatization refers to the act of branding or labeling someone as unacceptable or abnormal in some way, leading to social rejection and isolation. Carl is being subjected to discriminatory treatment due to his sexual orientation, which could lead to stigmatization. The other options, informal punishment, formal punishment, and retribution, do not accurately describe Carl's situation.

Question 15

Steven and Jeff, two high school students, have been picking on Tony, a classmate of theirs. Tony is openly gay. Steven and Jeff regularly taunt him, and they painted derogatory words on his school locker. After Tony complained to the school, Steven and Jeff were both suspended. Jeff retaliated by assaulting Tony on his way home from school one day. Criminal charges were laid and Jeff was sentenced to three months of community service. What do sociologists call the sanction imposed on Jeff for his assault?
A) formal punishment
B) government sanction
C) illegal acts of revenge
D) prosecution in the courts

Accepted Answer

Sociologists call the sanction imposed on Jeff for his assault a formal punishment. This is because it was imposed by the legal system as a consequence for his illegal behavior.

Question 16

There is public debate about whether smoking marijuana should be considered a crime. Some advocates claim it may have therapeutic value in treating cancer or pain associated with cancer, while others consider using marijuana immoral. This highlights which dimension of the nature of deviance and crime?
A) the invariability of social definitions of deviance and crime
B) the invariability of the severity of the social response to deviance and crime
C) the importance of the degree of public agreement about whether an act should be considered deviant or criminal
D) the importance of the perceived prevalence of the deviant or criminal act

Accepted Answer

The answer of There is public debate about whether smoking...

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the sociological explanation of deviance and crime?
A) Certain acts are the result of the lack of moral conscience.
B) Certain acts are socially identified and defined as deviant or criminal.
C) Certain acts are deemed socially tolerable, although deviant or illegal, within a society.
D) Certain acts are a result of family breakdown among the working class.

Accepted Answer

The sociological explanation of deviance and crime argues that certain acts are socially identified and defined as deviant or criminal. This means that deviance and crime are not inherently immoral or wrong, but rather are socially constructed and depend on cultural and social norms.

Question 18

Whether an act is considered deviant or criminal depends not only on the perceived harmfulness of the act, but also on which of the following?
A) whether the deviance was committed by a person of the upper class
B) the degree of public agreement that the act is deviant
C) whether there was police surveillance of the deviant behaviour
D) whether humour was intended in the deviance

Accepted Answer

The degree of public agreement that an act is deviant influences whether it is considered criminal or not. For example, homosexuality was once seen as criminal behavior because it was perceived as deviant by the majority of the public, but now it is legal in most countries because attitudes towards it have changed.

Answer: A and C 
 While public agreement is an important factor, the social status of the person committing the deviant act and the level of police surveillance also influence whether an act is considered criminal. For example, a person from a lower socio-economic background may be more likely to be charged for the same act that a person from a wealthy background may be let off the hook for. The level of surveillance can also lead to more arrests for certain types of deviance, such as drug use.

Answer: D 
 Humour being intended in the deviance does not impact whether it is considered deviant or criminal. The perceived harmfulness of the act and its societal norms are the primary factors that determine whether an act is deviant or criminal.

Question 19

Arivarasan has been assigned a research project for his sociology class. The topic for his project is the history of crime statistics in Canada. Which of the following sources would be able to provide him with the widest range of data?
A) provincial governments
B) criminologists
C) the federal government
D) the police

Accepted Answer

The answer of Arivarasan has been assigned a research project...

Question 20

Negatively assessing a person and labelling the person as undesirable based on visible characteristics that distinguish them from others is characteristic of which of the following?
A) punishment
B) sanctioning
C) public agreement
D) stigmatizing

Accepted Answer

Stigmatizing involves negatively assessing and labelling a person based on visible characteristics that distinguish them from others. Punishment involves a penalty for a wrongdoing, sanctioning involves imposing penalties or rewards as a means of encouraging or enforcing conformity, and public agreement involves a shared consensus or understanding among members of a society or group.

Quiz 5: Deviance and Crime

Today, Nelson Mandela is hailed as a hero. This suggests that the social definition of which of the following has changed over time?

Which of the following types of crimes is least likely to be reported to the police?

Some acts, such as rape, are generally seen as very harmful and are severely punished. Others, such as tattooing, are commonly regarded as harmless and are not punished. This demonstrates which of the following dimensions of deviance?

Which of the following illustrates committing a crime?

Which of the following do people receive when being penalized for breaking a law?

Among some Inuit communities at the beginning of the twentieth century, allowing newborns to freeze to death was not considered a deviant act. According to the textbook, what does this say about deviance?

Whether or not a particular act is considered deviant depends upon which of the following?

Why does the textbook assert that "everyone" is deviant?

According to the textbook, which of the following is best characterizes the sociological view of deviance and crime?

Formal punishment is imposed on people who do which of the following?

In the early 1900s, even though Coca-Cola contained a derivative of cocaine it was perfectly legal and quickly became a very popular beverage. Why is cocaine now an illegal drug?

Which of the following best describes the sociological explanation of deviance and crime?

Whether an act is considered deviant or criminal depends not only on the perceived harmfulness of the act, but also on which of the following?

Arivarasan has been assigned a research project for his sociology class. The topic for his project is the history of crime statistics in Canada. Which of the following sources would be able to provide him with the widest range of data?

Negatively assessing a person and labelling the person as undesirable based on visible characteristics that distinguish them from others is characteristic of which of the following?