Question 1

Today in the United States,women are arrested for property crimes at the same rate as men are.

Accepted Answer

Women are arrested for property crimes at a lower rate than men. Historically and statistically, men have been more likely to be involved in criminal activities, including property crimes, than women.

Question 2

Corporate crime refers to stealing or other crimes that are committed against a corporation or other large business.

Accepted Answer

Corporate crime refers to illegal acts committed by a corporation or its employees in the course of their work for the corporation, such as fraud, bribery, insider trading, and environmental violations. It is not crimes committed against a corporation.

Question 3

Psychiatrist Thomas Szasz states that the label of "insanity" is widely applied to behavior that is actually only "different."

Accepted Answer

Psychiatrist Thomas Szasz was a strong critic of the concept that mental illness is a "disease" that can be cured with medical treatment. He argued that many behaviors that are labeled as "insane" are actually just variations of human behavior and not caused by any underlying disease or disorder. Szasz believed that the medicalization of mental illness was actually harmful and perpetuated social control over individuals who were seen as "deviant" or outside mainstream societal norms.

Question 4

Organized crime refers to supplying legal goods and services at below market prices.

Accepted Answer

Organized crime refers to illegal activities such as smuggling, extortion, money laundering, etc. It does not involve supplying legal goods and services at below market prices.

Question 5

Crime is only one category of deviance.

Accepted Answer

Deviance refers to any behavior that goes against societal norms and expectations, including but not limited to criminal behavior. Other forms of deviance can include breaking social norms like dress codes, language use, or social etiquette.

Question 6

Emile Durkheim's analysis suggests it would be impossible for a society to completely eliminate deviance.

Accepted Answer

Durkheim believed that deviance is a normal and necessary part of any society, as it helps to define and reinforce social norms and values. Therefore, completely eliminating deviance would be impossible.

Question 7

The "medicalization of deviance" idea points to the fact that most crimes are committed by people who are under the influence of an illegal drug.

Accepted Answer

The "medicalization of deviance" idea suggest that certain behaviors or conditions that were once considered moral or social issues are now being medicalized and treated as disorders. It is not specific to drug use or crime.

Question 8

The stigma of deviance can encourage an individual to engage in further deviance.

Accepted Answer

The stigma of deviance can lead to an individual feeling alienated and rejected by society, which can increase the likelihood of them engaging in further deviant behavior as a coping mechanism or to seek acceptance from like-minded individuals. Additionally, if an individual has already been labeled as a deviant, they may feel that they have nothing to lose by continuing to engage in deviant behavior.

Question 9

Travis Hirschi's control theory makes the point that people who commit crimes typically have little concern about the potential consequences.

Accepted Answer

Travis Hirschi's control theory suggests that individuals who have strong bonds with society, such as family and community, are less likely to commit crimes because they have a greater concern about the potential consequences of their actions. On the other hand, those who lack these bonds and social connections are more likely to engage in criminal behavior because they have less concern about the potential consequences. Therefore, the statement "people who commit crimes typically have little concern about the potential consequences" is true according to Hirschi's theory.

Question 10

Walter Reckless and Simon Dinitz developed containment theory,which claims that a strong superego helps boys stay out of trouble.

Accepted Answer

Walter Reckless and Simon Dinitz did develop containment theory, which suggests that a strong superego or inner control system can prevent individuals from engaging in criminal behavior, especially during times of stress or temptation. However, the theory is not limited to only boys and can apply to both genders.

Question 11

"Primary deviance" refers to the most serious offenses.

Accepted Answer

Primary deviance refers to the first time someone engages in a deviant behavior, which may not necessarily be the most serious offense.

Question 12

Albert Cohen suggested that lower-class youths form a delinquent subculture to gain the self-respect that society denies them.

Accepted Answer

Albert Cohen's theory of delinquent subculture suggests that lower-class youths experience a status frustration due to their inability to achieve success within the middle-class framework of society. As a result, they form their own subculture with its own values and norms, including delinquent behavior, as a means of gaining status and self-respect within their own group.

Question 13

What is considered deviant is mostly the same behavior all around the world.

Accepted Answer

What is considered deviant varies greatly across cultures and societies. What is considered acceptable or unacceptable behavior in one culture may not be the same in another culture. For example, public displays of affection may be considered deviant in some cultures but normal in others.

Question 14

Cesare Lombroso,an Italian physician and criminologist,claimed that most criminals were people who had been mistreated by society.

Accepted Answer

Cesare Lombroso believed that criminals were born with innate criminal traits, rather than being influenced by society.

Question 15

Biological factors,including genetics,explain most criminal behavior.

Accepted Answer

While genetics can play a role in some criminal behavior, it is not the sole or even the predominant factor. Environmental and societal factors, such as upbringing, poverty, and peer influence, also have significant impact on criminal behavior.

Question 16

Labeling theory stresses that some actions are always wrong and others are always right.

Accepted Answer

Labeling theory emphasizes that behavior is not inherently right or wrong, but rather that it is deemed as such by society through the application of labels or stigmas. Thus, what is considered wrong or right can vary across different contexts and cultures.

Question 17

A poor person who has little chance to go to college and who sells illegal drugs to make money is one example of a deviant "innovator."

Accepted Answer

According to Robert Merton's strain theory, an innovator is someone who accepts the cultural goals of society but uses unconventional means to achieve them. Selling illegal drugs is an example of an unconventional means, and a poor person who has little chance to go to college may feel that this is the only way to achieve financial success. Therefore, a poor person who sells illegal drugs to make money is an example of a deviant "innovator."

Question 18

Feminist theory claims that women,compared to men,are subject to greater social control.

Accepted Answer

Feminist theory argues that women face greater social control because of historical and ongoing patriarchal structures that limit their opportunities and agency in society. This can manifest in various forms of oppression, including sexual objectification, gender-based violence, and restricted access to political, economic, and cultural resources.

Question 19

Robert Merton claimed that the "strains of masculinity" are an important cause of crime.

Accepted Answer

Robert Merton is known for his Strain Theory, which suggests that crime is caused by the strain or frustration individuals feel when they cannot achieve societal goals through legitimate means. He did not specifically focus on the "strains of masculinity" as a cause of crime.

Question 20

According to the social-conflict approach,deviance has a number of functions for the operation of society as a whole.

Accepted Answer

The social-conflict approach argues that deviance is a result of social inequalities and power differences, rather than serving functional purposes for society as a whole. It emphasizes how norms and laws reflect the interests of powerful groups.

Quiz 9: Deviance