Chapter 4

Question 1

the core idea that elements in society’s structure promote deviance by making deviant behavior a viable adaptation to living in the society. The theory describes deviance as a result of certain social, structural strains that pressure individuals to become deviant.

Answer 1

Anomie Theory

Question 2

Examples: like material success, in the form of wealth and education

Answer 2

status goals

Question 3

Goals that are generally strived for in a society. Within the law.

Answer 3

culturally valued goals and legitimate means

Question 4

can contribute to the explanation of serious crimes in the United States and may create other types of strain through actions.

Answer 4

Social Structure

Question 5

people or groups who wish their conception of

morality to be reinforced by law

Answer 5

Moral Entrepreneurs

Question 6

focus their explanations more on deviance than on deviant behavior. That is, these theories address the origins of rules or norms rather than the origins of behavior that violates established standards.

Answer 6

Conflict theory

Question 7

society’s ruling class. These wealthy members of society control the means of economic production and exert inordinate influence over society’s political and economic institutions

Answer 7

Bourgeoisie

Question 8

workers whose labor the wealthy exploit.

Answer 8

Proletariat

Question 9

hypothesis, however, denies this direct relationship, explaining enthusiasm for crime control as a function of perceived social threats in society. These threats may come from behavior defined as undesirable or from people or groups defined as inherently dangerous, regardless of their behavior.

Answer 9

social threat

Question 10

acknowledges the state’s active role in the process of criminalizing certain behaviors. The state enacts laws that reflect established political and economic inequalities and interests.

Answer 10

left realism

Question 11

Processual theories concentrate on the social psychology of deviance; that is, the conditions that bring about deviant acts by individuals and small groups. This theory is also called the interactionist perspective, focuses on the consequences of deviants’ interactions with conventional society, particularly with official agents of social control

Answer 11

Labeling theory

Question 12

a particular conception or definition of deviance

Answer 12

Reactivist conception

Question 13

Consequences of social control efforts

Answer 13

Theory of secondary deviation

Question 14

different groups who promote competing rules and definitions of deviance; society’s determination of behavior as deviant always reflects the relative power of these groups

Answer 14

stigma contest

Question 15

Widely established general perspectives on deviance and expresses some of the main ideas of the social disorganization perspective.

Answer 15

Control Theory

Question 16

Sutherland argued that deviant group behavior resulted from normative conflict. Conflict among norms affects deviance through differential social organization, determined by neighborhood structures, peer group relationships, and family organization.

Answer 16

Theory of differential association

Question 17

Deviant behaviors are learned and developed according to the same basic processes through which non-deviants learn conformity. Deviance results from learned acquisition of deviant norms and values, particularly those learned within subcultures and among peers.
These theories have established wide acceptance among sociologists. Studies have found support for this theory in applications to many forms of deviance.

Answer 17

Socialization or Learning Theory

Question 18

deviance results when a person learns definitions that portray some conduct as a desirable, deviant action. Over time individuals learn that some behavior and attitudes lead to reinforcement.

Answer 18

Differential association-reinforcement theory of deviance