Sociology Final Review: Deviance

Social control is:

• An arrangement of practices and behaviors on which society’s members base their daily lives.

• A system that has the authority to make decisions based on law.

• The regulation and enforcement of norms.

• A label that describes the chief characteristic of an individual.

Functionalist Émile Durkheim believed some deviance within society was:

• Necessary; it challenged people’s views.

• Dangerous; it encouraged disruptive behavior.

• Insignificant; deviance within society is largely ignored.

• Instrumental; it encouraged the population to rebel.

Strain theory:

• Argues that morality is based on wealth.

• Asserts that motivation and personal responsibility are the key factors in living a healthy lifestyle.

• Addresses the relationship between having socially acceptable goals and having socially acceptable means to reach those goals.

• States individuals learn deviant behavior from those close to them who provide models of and opportunities for deviance.

Ally’s father was sent to prison when she was 12 for the trafficking of narcotics; her brother was arrested when she was 13 for possession of methamphetamines. By the age of 18, Ally has been arrested three times for possession of marijuana. Which theory best describes Ally’s experience?

• Differential association theory

• Strain theory

• Labeling theory

• Opaque theory

Which of the following is an example of a negative informal sanction?

• Mario being sent to jail after robbing a CVS.

• Beatrix being booed off stage after telling an offensive joke during her comedy routine.

• Eleanor being given a “Teacher of the Year” award for her work as a high school English teacher.

• Meredith receiving compliments on her hair after visiting the salon.

In first grade, Scott is unfairly singled out by his teacher for bad behavior, partly because his older brothers had behavioral problems themselves. Throughout grade school, Scott gains a reputation as a “problem” child. Scott eventually drops out of school, thinking he was born to fail anyway. Which school of thought best fits Scott’s experience?

• Strain theory

• Control theory

• Differential association

• Labeling theory

The term deviance can be defined as:

• The act of notifying authorities when criminal acts are occurring.

• A violation of established contextual, cultural, or social norms, whether folkways, mores, or codified law.

• Social reward for the violation of norms.

• The regulation and enforcement of norms.

Jake receives a promotion at his law firm after winning an important case. This is an example of a:

• Positive informal sanction

• Negative informal sanction

• Positive formal sanction

• Negative formal sanction