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CHAPTER TWO
Positivist Theories
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The theories of positivist sociologists attempt to explain the __________ of deviance.
a) negative features
b) symbolism
c) causes
d) meanings
Answer: C; Page Reference: 18–19; Bloom’s Category: Understanding
2. Joe is a sociologist who is undertaking a study of drug use. He is interested in how
broken families and poor neighborhoods lead to more problems of drug addiction.
Joe is following a __________ theory of deviant behavior.
a) positivist
b) constructionist
c) scientific
d) historical
Answer: A; Page Reference: 18; Bloom’s Category: Application
3. Which of the following is NOT a primarily positivist theory of deviance?
a) differential association
b) anomie-strain theory
c) control theory
d) phenomenological theory
Answer: D; Page Reference: 18–30; Bloom’s Category: Analysis
4. The essence of several types of anomie-strain theory is that the experience of
a) personal, psychological strain leads to deviant behavior.
b) socially induced strain pressures individuals to commit deviant acts.
c) significant social and political conflict leads to deviant acts.
d) cultural change leads to social strain and outbreaks of deviant behavior.
Answer: B; Page Reference: 18–19; Bloom’s Category: Understanding
5. According to Robert Merton’s goal-means gap theory, the psychoanalytic approach
to deviant behavior is wrong because that theory incorrectly assumes that
a) society discourages the individual from engaging in deviant behavior.
b) society encourages the individual to engage in deviant behavior.
c) society has no impact on human biological impulses.
d) individuals freely choose to partake in deviant behavior.
Answer: A; Page Reference: 18–19; Bloom’s Category: Understanding
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6. Merton’s version of anomie-strain theory is based on the premise that
a) the breakdown of social norms, or anomie, inhibits deviance.
b) society encourages the individual to engage in deviance.
c) deviant behavior is the expression of the individual’s primitive psychological
desires.
d) society cannot restrain the individual from using power to prevent deviance.
Answer: B; Page Reference: 18–19; Bloom’s Category: Understanding
7. According to Merton, the only cultural value of importance in American society is
a) family relationships.
b) hard work.
c) material success.
d) religious faith.
Answer: C; Page Reference: 19; Bloom’s Category: Analysis
8. According to Merton’s anomie-strain theory, which of the following statements is
true?
a) All Americans have about the same chance of reaching high success goals.
b) Both the cultural goals of success and the legitimate means of achieving high
success goals are freely available to all Americans.
c) Relatively few Americans believe that success is an important part of life.
d) The legitimate means of achieving high success goals are not freely available to
all classes of people.
Answer: D; Page Reference: 18–20; Bloom’s Category: Analysis
9. According to Merton, when persons hold high success aspirations and are not given
the opportunity to realize them, they might
a) resort to illegitimate means of achieving their aspirations.
b) reset their goals to an even higher level.
c) feel irrepressible psychological pressures and become violent.
d) become more religious.
Answer: A; Page Reference: 19; Bloom’s Category: Understanding
10. All of Jane’s friends have jewelry and new clothes, but she has no money to buy
them. She therefore resorts to shoplifting to get what she wants. According to
Merton’s theory, her behavior is an example of
a) conformity.
b) innovation.
c) ritualism.
d) retreatism.
Answer: B; Page Reference: 18; Bloom’s Category: Application
11. Peter, disillusioned with the way things are going, decides to live in a hippie
commune away from the rest of society. According to Merton’s theory, his behavior
is an example of
a) conformity.
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b) innovation.
c) ritualism.
d) retreatism.
Answer: D; Page Reference: 19–20; Bloom’s Category: Application
12. Joe, a steel worker in Cleveland, Ohio, has no aspirations of being rich and
successful. Nevertheless, he works hard and takes pride in his job. According to
Merton’s theory, this is an example of
a) conformity.
b) innovation.
c) ritualism.
d) retreatism.
Answer: C; Page Reference: 19–20; Bloom’s Category: Application
13. Albert Cohen’s theory is similar to Merton’s approach, but Cohen replaced the word
“success” with the word “__________.”
a) wealth
b) innovation
c) anomie
d) status
Answer: D; Page Reference: 21; Bloom’s Category: Remembering
14. Cohen’s theory utilizes which group to illustrate status frustration?
a) upper-class boys.
b) middle-class boys.
c) lower-class boys.
d) lower-class girls.
Answer: C; Page Reference: 20; Bloom’s Category: Understanding
15. According to Cohen’s theory, the place in American society where lower-class boys
experience the greatest status frustration is
a) home.
b) school.
c) neighborhood.
d) the job.
Answer: B; Page Reference: 20; Bloom’s Category: Understanding
16. According to Albert Cohen, when lower-class boys experience status frustration, they
set up their own competitive system in the form of
a) violent gangs.
b) religious groups.
c) delinquent subcultures.
d) boys clubs.
Answer: C; Page Reference: 21; Bloom’s Category: Understanding
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CHAPTER TWO
Positivist Theories
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The theories of positivist sociologists attempt to explain the __________ of deviance.
a) negative features
b) symbolism
c) causes
d) meanings
Answer: C; Page Reference: 18–19; Bloom’s Category: Understanding
2. Joe is a sociologist who is undertaking a study of drug use. He is interested in how
broken families and poor neighborhoods lead to more problems of drug addiction.
Joe is following a __________ theory of deviant behavior.
a) positivist
b) constructionist
c) scientific
d) historical
Answer: A; Page Reference: 18; Bloom’s Category: Application
3. Which of the following is NOT a primarily positivist theory of deviance?
a) differential association
b) anomie-strain theory
c) control theory
d) phenomenological theory
Answer: D; Page Reference: 18–30; Bloom’s Category: Analysis
4. The essence of several types of anomie-strain theory is that the experience of
a) personal, psychological strain leads to deviant behavior.
b) socially induced strain pressures individuals to commit deviant acts.
c) significant social and political conflict leads to deviant acts.
d) cultural change leads to social strain and outbreaks of deviant behavior.
Answer: B; Page Reference: 18–19; Bloom’s Category: Understanding
5. According to Robert Merton’s goal-means gap theory, the psychoanalytic approach
to deviant behavior is wrong because that theory incorrectly assumes that
a) society discourages the individual from engaging in deviant behavior.
b) society encourages the individual to engage in deviant behavior.
c) society has no impact on human biological impulses.
d) individuals freely choose to partake in deviant behavior.
Answer: A; Page Reference: 18–19; Bloom’s Category: Understanding
16 Copyright © 2019, 2013, 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., All rights reserved.
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,DOWNLOAD THE Test Bank for Deviant Behavior 12th Edition Thio
6. Merton’s version of anomie-strain theory is based on the premise that
a) the breakdown of social norms, or anomie, inhibits deviance.
b) society encourages the individual to engage in deviance.
c) deviant behavior is the expression of the individual’s primitive psychological
desires.
d) society cannot restrain the individual from using power to prevent deviance.
Answer: B; Page Reference: 18–19; Bloom’s Category: Understanding
7. According to Merton, the only cultural value of importance in American society is
a) family relationships.
b) hard work.
c) material success.
d) religious faith.
Answer: C; Page Reference: 19; Bloom’s Category: Analysis
8. According to Merton’s anomie-strain theory, which of the following statements is
true?
a) All Americans have about the same chance of reaching high success goals.
b) Both the cultural goals of success and the legitimate means of achieving high
success goals are freely available to all Americans.
c) Relatively few Americans believe that success is an important part of life.
d) The legitimate means of achieving high success goals are not freely available to
all classes of people.
Answer: D; Page Reference: 18–20; Bloom’s Category: Analysis
9. According to Merton, when persons hold high success aspirations and are not given
the opportunity to realize them, they might
a) resort to illegitimate means of achieving their aspirations.
b) reset their goals to an even higher level.
c) feel irrepressible psychological pressures and become violent.
d) become more religious.
Answer: A; Page Reference: 19; Bloom’s Category: Understanding
10. All of Jane’s friends have jewelry and new clothes, but she has no money to buy
them. She therefore resorts to shoplifting to get what she wants. According to
Merton’s theory, her behavior is an example of
a) conformity.
b) innovation.
c) ritualism.
d) retreatism.
Answer: B; Page Reference: 18; Bloom’s Category: Application
11. Peter, disillusioned with the way things are going, decides to live in a hippie
commune away from the rest of society. According to Merton’s theory, his behavior
is an example of
a) conformity.
17 Copyright © 2019, 2013, 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., All rights reserved.
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, DOWNLOAD THE Test Bank for Deviant Behavior 12th Edition Thio
b) innovation.
c) ritualism.
d) retreatism.
Answer: D; Page Reference: 19–20; Bloom’s Category: Application
12. Joe, a steel worker in Cleveland, Ohio, has no aspirations of being rich and
successful. Nevertheless, he works hard and takes pride in his job. According to
Merton’s theory, this is an example of
a) conformity.
b) innovation.
c) ritualism.
d) retreatism.
Answer: C; Page Reference: 19–20; Bloom’s Category: Application
13. Albert Cohen’s theory is similar to Merton’s approach, but Cohen replaced the word
“success” with the word “__________.”
a) wealth
b) innovation
c) anomie
d) status
Answer: D; Page Reference: 21; Bloom’s Category: Remembering
14. Cohen’s theory utilizes which group to illustrate status frustration?
a) upper-class boys.
b) middle-class boys.
c) lower-class boys.
d) lower-class girls.
Answer: C; Page Reference: 20; Bloom’s Category: Understanding
15. According to Cohen’s theory, the place in American society where lower-class boys
experience the greatest status frustration is
a) home.
b) school.
c) neighborhood.
d) the job.
Answer: B; Page Reference: 20; Bloom’s Category: Understanding
16. According to Albert Cohen, when lower-class boys experience status frustration, they
set up their own competitive system in the form of
a) violent gangs.
b) religious groups.
c) delinquent subcultures.
d) boys clubs.
Answer: C; Page Reference: 21; Bloom’s Category: Understanding
18 Copyright © 2019, 2013, 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., All rights reserved.
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