Sociology of deviance - Test
  • 1. Sociology of deviance is a subfield of sociology that examines behaviors and actions that are considered outside societal norms and standards. It focuses on understanding why certain behaviors are labeled as deviant, how these labels are applied, and the impact of societal reactions on individuals and groups. This field explores the social construction of deviance, the role of power dynamics in defining norms, and the implications of deviant behavior for social control and inequality. Sociologists of deviance seek to challenge and deconstruct conventional ideas about what is considered 'normal' in society, and to understand how these perceptions shape social interactions, institutions, and structures.

    What is the difference between crime and deviance?
A) There is no difference.
B) Deviance is worse than crime.
C) Crime is only committed by certain groups.
D) Deviance refers to behavior that violates social norms, while crime refers to behavior that breaks laws.
  • 2. Which theory suggests that deviance is a result of societal strains and opportunities for deviant behavior?
A) Control theory.
B) Labeling theory.
C) Strain theory.
D) Conflict theory.
  • 3. What is the term for the process by which an individual's status is transformed into a deviant identity?
A) Control theory.
B) Labeling theory.
C) Anomie theory.
D) Differential association theory.
  • 4. What is the term for a theory that suggests individuals conform to social expectations based on their bonds with others and institutions?
A) Conflict theory.
B) Social control theory.
C) Strain theory.
D) Labeling theory.
  • 5. According to social control theory, what is the role of informal social institutions in preventing deviance?
A) They provide social relationships that deter individuals from deviant behavior.
B) They actively promote deviant behavior.
C) They have no impact on deviance.
D) They impose harsh punishments on deviant individuals.
  • 6. What is secondary deviance?
A) Behavior that occurs in response to being labeled as deviant.
B) Deviance that is accepted by society.
C) Less serious deviant acts.
D) Deviance that is officially punishable by law.
  • 7. What role do social norms play in defining deviant behavior?
A) They establish boundaries of acceptable behavior.
B) They are irrelevant to deviance.
C) They encourage all behavior equally.
D) They are only applicable to certain groups.
  • 8. According to the control theory, what prevents individuals from engaging in deviant behavior?
A) Strong social bonds and attachments.
B) Strain and societal pressures.
C) Labeling by society.
D) Adherence to rigid rules.
  • 9. How does the conflict theory view deviance?
A) As a result of societal strains.
B) As a form of social inequality and power dynamics.
C) As a natural human instinct.
D) As a psychological disorder.
  • 10. Which sociological theory views deviance as a normal and necessary part of social organization?
A) Labeling theory
B) Structural functionalism
C) Conflict theory
D) Symbolic interaction
  • 11. Who proposed the normative theory of suicide that includes four important functions of deviance?
A) Robert Merton
B) Max Weber
C) Émile Durkheim
D) Karl Marx
  • 12. Which sociological theory focuses on the interaction and interpretation of symbols in understanding deviance?
A) Rational choice theory
B) Structural functionalism
C) Symbolic interactionism
D) Conflict theory
  • 13. What type of suicide occurs when a person experiences too much social regulation?
A) Fatalistic suicide
B) Egoistic suicide
C) Altruistic suicide
D) Anomic suicide
  • 14. Which type of deviance involves creating new goals and means that differ from those of society?
A) Rebellion
B) Ritualism
C) Conformism
D) Innovation
  • 15. How many types of neutralization are identified in the theory?
A) Six
B) Five
C) Three
D) Four
  • 16. What process do courts rely on to resolve cases?
A) An adversarial process with plea bargaining
B) Mediation between the defendant and victim
C) Public voting
D) Community service assignments
  • 17. Which type of deviance is characterized by rejecting both cultural goals and means, leading individuals to 'drop out'?
A) Innovation
B) Conformism
C) Retreatism
D) Rebellion
  • 18. What is the panopticon an example of, according to Foucault?
A) A model for democratic governance.
B) A template for modern prisons using discipline.
C) An ancient form of punishment.
D) A method for promoting free will.
  • 19. Who utilized the theory of bourgeois control over social junk and social dynamite?
A) Jock Young
B) George Rusche
C) Steven Spitzer
D) Karl Marx
  • 20. What is one factor that influences police decision-making to make an arrest?
A) The weather conditions
B) The time of day the crime occurs
C) If the offence is serious
D) The suspect's financial status
  • 21. Which type of suicide occurs due to a lack of social integration?
A) Anomic suicide
B) Fatalistic suicide
C) Altruistic suicide
D) Egoistic suicide
  • 22. Which type of deviance involves accepting societal goals but rejecting the means to achieve them?
A) Ritualism
B) Retreatism
C) Conformism
D) Innovation
  • 23. According to Karl Marx, what causes conflict and thus deviant behavior among the proletariat?
A) Cultural differences
B) Economic inequality
C) Lack of education
D) Alienation
  • 24. Who was among the first to develop the Theory of Biological Deviance?
A) Cesare Lombroso
B) Michel Foucault
C) Karl Marx
D) Charles Darwin
  • 25. What occurs when one is too socially integrated according to Durkheim?
A) Anomic suicide
B) Altruistic suicide
C) Egoistic suicide
D) Fatalistic suicide
  • 26. What is a disadvantage of resolving most court cases through plea bargaining?
A) It puts less powerful people at a disadvantage
B) It leads to longer trial durations
C) It guarantees harsher sentences
D) It increases the cost of legal proceedings
  • 27. Who developed the concept of primary and secondary deviation?
A) Walter C. Reckless
B) Travis Hirschi
C) Robert Crutchfield
D) Edwin Lemert
  • 28. Which form of justice focuses on defining boundaries of acceptable behaviors?
A) Restorative justice
B) Rehabilitative justice (rehabilitation & societal protection)
C) Punitive justice (retribution & deterrence)
D) Preventive justice
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