Question 1

The Elephant Man is an example of a __________________ because he was defined as deviant by others due to his appearance.

Accepted Answer

The Elephant Man, Joseph Merrick, was defined as deviant due to his physical appearance, which was immediately visible to others, making it a discredited stigma.

Question 2

Recently, criminology shifted from its early focus to a greater concern with _________________.

Accepted Answer

Criminology has shifted from its early focus on individual criminal behaviors to a greater concern with the social context of crime and its effect on larger society. This includes examining the root causes of criminal behavior and addressing systemic issues such as poverty, inequality, and discrimination that contribute to crime.

Question 3

Some people lead campaigns or social movements to define something as deviant. For instance, someone might want cigarette smoking on campus to be defined as a deviant act and enforced by a campus-wide no smoking policy. These people are examples of:

Accepted Answer

Moral entrepreneurs are individuals or groups who lead a campaign or take action to advocate for the recognition of certain behaviors or practices as deviant. They may frame their campaign as a moral issue, attempting to create a sense of right and wrong surrounding the behavior they wish to condemn. In the example given, someone advocating for a no smoking policy on campus is attempting to redefine smoking as a deviant behavior and enforce a moral code around it. Therefore, the best choice is C: moral entrepreneurs.

Question 4

Labeling theory is one variety of _______________ that is useful for thinking about deviance.

Accepted Answer

Labeling theory falls under the symbolic interactionist perspective, which posits that social interaction and meaning-making are fundamental to understanding human behavior, including deviance. This perspective emphasizes the important role that labels and social roles play in shaping both the individual and the broader social context.

Question 5

The main point in differential association theory is:

Accepted Answer

Differential association theory posits that criminal behavior is learned through social interaction with others who engage in such behavior. It suggests that people are not born criminals, but rather they learn these behaviors through exposure and association with others who engage in them. This theory places emphasis on the role of socialization and environment in shaping criminal behavior.

Question 6

____________________ is the term for a widespread but disproportionate reaction to the form of deviance in question.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____________________ is the term for a widespread...

Question 7

A researcher who studies organized crime and utilizes the interactionist perspective would focus on:

Accepted Answer

The interactionist perspective emphasizes how individuals interact with their social environment and how they construct and display their identities. A researcher studying organized crime from this perspective would be interested in how individuals involved in organized crime choose to present themselves in different settings and how this affects their relationships and outcomes. They would be less concerned with larger societal institutions or the purposes of organized crime itself.

Question 8

What did early criminology focus on?

Accepted Answer

Early criminology often focused on identifying physical or psychological characteristics that were believed to be unique to criminals, such as through the study of phrenology or physiognomy.

Question 9

John is an ex-con who moves to a rural town after being let out of prison. He has moved there so that no one will know his identity and what he has done in the past. John is an example of a person with a(n) _____________________________.

Accepted Answer

John is trying to hide his past and keep his identity a secret, which is characteristic of someone with a discreditable stigma. This is different from a discredited stigma, where the person's stigmatizing trait is already known to others. While John's past crime would fall under the category of a criminal stigma, the specific type of stigma he is dealing with is discreditable. An invisible stigma refers to a stigma that is not immediately apparent to others, such as a mental illness or chronic health condition that is not visible.

Question 10

John is at a fraternity party and drinks excessively for the first time in his life. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Primary deviance refers to deviant behavior that occurs without the person adopting a deviant identity or seeing him/herself as a deviant. In this scenario, John is engaging in deviant behavior (drinking excessively) for the first time, but it is not yet seen as part of his identity or part of a deviant lifestyle. Therefore, his behavior is an example of primary deviance.

Question 11

A key figure in criminology, _________________ created the differential association theory and helped to influence the use of a symbolic interaction approach to criminology.

Accepted Answer

Edwin Sutherland is the key figure who created the differential association theory, which suggests that criminal behavior is learned through interactions with others and influenced by both the frequency and intensity of those interactions. He also helped to promote a symbolic interaction approach to criminology, which focuses on how individuals construct and interpret meanings in social interactions.

Question 12

Harold Garfinkel studied Agnes, a male-to-female transgendered person, in a classic ___________ study.

Accepted Answer

Garfinkel's study of Agnes was a classic example of an ethnomethodological study, which focuses on the everyday methods and practices that people use to make sense of their social world.

Question 13

Conflict-critical theorists argue that when it comes to deviant and criminal behavior, members of the elite:

Accepted Answer

Conflict-critical theorists argue that members of the elite have more power, resources, and connections that enable them to commit deviant acts and escape penalties. This is often referred to as "white-collar" crime, which includes things like embezzlement, insider trading, and corporate fraud, among others. Studies have shown that those who commit these types of crimes are less likely to face punishment than those who commit more visible crimes, such as theft or drug possession. Additionally, the elite may also receive preferential treatment in the criminal justice system, such as being sentenced to house arrest instead of prison or receiving lighter jail sentences.

Question 14

Sue has been struggling with prescription drug abuse for years. Her coworkers consider her behavior to be extremely disruptive to her work performance and want her to get help for her addiction. Sue's coworkers are examples of:

Accepted Answer

Social control agents are individuals, such as Sue's coworkers, who exert pressure on others to conform to social norms and values through various forms of sanctions or rewards. In this case, Sue's coworkers want her to seek help for her addiction because her behavior disrupts their work performance, which is a deviation from the norm.

Question 15

When companies have misleading advertisements and distribute goods that they know are harmful to the public, all in the name of making a profit, this is an example of a ______________________.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of corporate crime, where a corporation or company engages in illegal or unethical actions for profit. It involves a violation of public trust and can result in harm to consumers, employees, and the environment.

Question 16

Which of the following does the text identify as an important built-in characteristic of the criminal justice system in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The text identifies discretion as an important built-in characteristic of the criminal justice system in the United States. This means that decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account individual circumstances and factors, rather than treating everyone the same way.

Question 17

When a person has internalized a deviant label that is placed on them, this is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Secondary deviance occurs when a person internalizes a deviant label that is placed on them, and they begin to identify with it and conform to it as part of their self-concept. This can lead to a cycle of further deviant behavior and more labeling, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of deviance. Primary deviance refers to the first act of deviance that may not necessarily result in the person adopting a deviant label, while tertiary deviance refers to the rejection or subversion of mainstream labels and the creation of alternative identities. Entrenched deviance is not a commonly used term in criminology or sociology.

Question 18

Burglary and motor vehicle theft are types of __________________________.

Accepted Answer

Burglary and motor vehicle theft are both crimes that involve the theft or attempted theft of property, which falls under the category of property crimes. Violent crimes involve the use of force, such as assault or murder. Organized crimes involve criminal activities that are planned and coordinated by a group or organized crime syndicate. White-collar crimes involve non-violent offenses committed by individuals in positions of power or trust, such as embezzlement or securities fraud.

Question 19

Which of these are people who are more likely to be socially defined as deviant according to labeling theory?

Accepted Answer

According to labeling theory, those who are labeled as deviant are more likely to be those who lack power or are marginalized in some way. Therefore, poor people are more likely to be socially defined as deviant than those who have more power or privilege.

Question 20

When it was revealed that golfer Tiger Woods had cheated on his wife with many women, his reputation suffered. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Labeling theory suggests that individuals become identified with labels that others assign to them, which can affect their self-identity and behavior. Tiger Woods being labeled as a cheater affected his reputation, aligning with labeling theory.

Quiz 7: Deviance and Crime