Question 1

According to the definition of deviance that emphasizes harm, something is "deviant" only if it harms someone else rather than oneself.

Accepted Answer

The definition of deviance that emphasizes harm states that something is deviant if it violates social norms and causes harm, regardless of whether the harm is to oneself or others.

Question 2

In the 19?? century women's groups attempted to reduce alcohol consumption,
claiming it to be the "demon liquor". From the perspective of deviance specialists, these women were an example of moral entrepreneurs.

Accepted Answer

Women's groups advocating for the reduction of alcohol consumption can be considered moral entrepreneurs as they were attempting to create and enforce new norms and values surrounding alcohol consumption.

Question 3

Criminal laws, which define the social norms and subsequent behaviours that are deemed deviant, are born from consensus.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 4

Deviance specialists who focus on the more subjective aspects of deviance analyze the perceptions of and reactions to deviant acts, rather than the deviant acts themselves.

Accepted Answer

Deviance specialists who focus on the more subjective aspects of deviance, such as labeling theory and cultural relativism, analyze the perceptions of and reactions to deviant acts, rather than the deviant acts themselves. They argue that what is considered deviant varies across cultures and time periods, and that the labeling of individuals as deviant can have significant consequences for their treatment by society.

Question 5

The "deviance dance" is of particular interest to deviance specialists who lean toward the subjective end of the objective-subjective continuum.

Accepted Answer

The statement correctly describes deviance specialists who focus on the subjective interpretation of deviance, rather than solely objective measurements. The "deviance dance" refers to the negotiation and interpretation of deviance within social interactions, highlighting the subjective and dynamic nature of deviance.

Question 6

The alcohol industry itself has the power to influence government alcohol policies.

Accepted Answer

The alcohol industry has significant financial resources and lobbying power, which allows them to exert influence on government policies related to alcohol regulation and taxation. This influence can shape how alcohol is marketed and sold, as well as how it is regulated and taxed.

Question 7

Defining deviance on the basis of statistical rarity is more common in everyday conversation than in scientific research.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true. While statistical rarity may be used as one factor in defining deviance, scientific research tends to use more complex and nuanced definitions that take into account societal norms, cultural factors, and individual circumstances.

Question 8

Because most Canadians disapprove of heroin use, we can say that heroin use is "deviant", according to the definition of deviance that emphasizes negative societal reaction.

Accepted Answer

The definition of deviance that emphasizes negative societal reaction states that behavior is considered deviant if it is met with disapproval, condemnation or punishment by society. As most Canadians disapprove of heroin use, heroin use can be considered deviant under this definition.

Question 9

In the early 20th century, social activist Emily Murphy claimed that marijuana use caused extreme violence, insanity, and death. When we evaluate her claims today, we can see one of the limitations of defining deviance on the basis of negative societal reaction.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the early 20th century, social activist...

Question 10

Under leader Stephen Harper, the Conservative Party of Canada held free votes in Parliament (as a proxy for societal reaction) on the two "hot-button" issues of the day-same sex marriage and the decriminalization of marijuana.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Under leader Stephen Harper, the Conservative Party...

Question 11

One of the limitations of using harm as the defining characteristic of deviance is that perceptions of harm change over time.

Accepted Answer

Perceptions of harm can change over time and what was once considered harmful may no longer be seen as such. Additionally, harm can be subjective and vary depending on cultural, social, and individual norms and values. Therefore, relying solely on harm as the defining characteristic of deviance may lead to inconsistent and potentially unfair judgments.

Question 12

A question that some people raise about defining deviance on the basis of societal reaction is whether some people's reactions (e.g. the Prime Minister's) count more than other people's reactions (e.g. a homeless person's).

Accepted Answer

This question raises an issue of power and privilege in defining deviance based on societal reaction. The societal reaction may not be uniform and may be influenced by factors such as race, class, and status. Hence, the reactions of those in positions of power and influence may count more than those of marginalized groups such as the homeless.

Question 13

The fact that left-handedness is considered acceptable in Canadian society suggests that there are limitations to defining deviance on the basis of statistical rarity.

Accepted Answer

Left-handedness is statistically rare, but it is not considered deviant or unacceptable in Canadian society, indicating that statistical rarity is not always indicative of deviance.

Question 14

According to subjective definitions of deviance, the presence of specific observable characteristics tells us whether someone is deviant.

Accepted Answer

Subjective definitions of deviance vary across different societies and cultures, and the presence of certain observable characteristics alone cannot determine whether someone is considered deviant. Social context, cultural values, and individual interpretation play a significant role in defining deviance.

Question 15

One of the limitations of defining deviance on the basis of a negative societal reaction is that there are usually varying reactions to the same act, wherein different groups of people in society have different opinions on the same issue.

Accepted Answer

Different groups in society may have different norms and values, which can lead to different reactions to the same act. For example, some cultures may view certain behaviors as deviant while others may view them as acceptable or even desirable. Thus, defining deviance solely based on negative societal reaction can be limited and subjective.

Question 16

According to some deviance specialists, recent definitions of deviance have largely come to accept the notion of an observable characteristic that all "deviants" share.

Accepted Answer

Recent definitions of deviance acknowledge that it is a social construct and can vary across cultural contexts, therefore there is not necessarily an observable characteristic that all "deviants" share.

Question 17

According to the textbook author, the greatest degree of understanding of deviance comes from combining both more objective and more subjective approaches.

Accepted Answer

The author argues that the most full and complex understanding of deviance is achieved when objective and subjective perspectives are combined, as each approach provides a unique and important insight into the nature of deviant behavior.

Question 18

Many contemporary definitions of deviance combine both objective and subjective elements.

Accepted Answer

Many definitions of deviance take into account both objective criteria (such as breaking a law or cultural norm) and subjective criteria (such as perceived social harm or moral outrage).

Question 19

The "subjective" approach to the study of deviance has also been labelled
A) the absolutist approach.
B) the relativist perspective.
C) the normative perspective.
D) the deterministic approach.
E) the pseudo-scientific approach.

Accepted Answer

The "subjective" approach to the study of deviance emphasizes the importance of considering the perspectives of those involved in defining and responding to deviant behavior. This approach is sometimes referred to as the relativist perspective because it recognizes that definitions of deviance and responses to it may vary across different cultures, groups, and historical periods.

Question 20

A century ago, doctors claimed that masturbation caused acne, hairy palms, and insanity. When we consider these claims today, we can see one of the limitations of defining deviance on the basis of harm.

Accepted Answer

The example given shows that harm can be exaggerated or falsely attributed to certain behaviors, leading to an incorrect labeling of deviance.

Quiz 1: Determining Deviance