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