SOC 2070 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
What does an objectivist argue about crime? - Answer -Particular qualities or
characteristics make something deviant, the act is criminal "in and of itself", self-evident
and assumed
What are the 4 qualities of deviance from an objectivist point of view? - Answer -1.
Harm: physical or psychological harm
2. Rarity: anything that is socially rare
3. Negative social reaction: whether the act generates a reaction from the masses
4. Norm violation: whether it violates folkways or mores
What are the main critiques of the 4 objectivist deviant qualities? - Answer -1. Harm-
there can be things deviant but not harmful, and harmful but not deviant
2. Rarity- there are instances of rarity without deviance (heroic acts)
3. Negative social reaction: masses are not quantified, everyone has different
consensuses of deviant
4. Norm violation: not everyone prioritizes or possesses the same norms
What does a subjectivist argue about crime? - Answer -Argues that deviance is any
phenomenon defined as such, it is whatever society deems to be deviant at a point in
time (not inherently criminal), label makes it deviant
What are moral entrepreneurs? - Answer -Individuals or groups that go out of their way
to change the prevailing definition of deviant behaviour (media, scientists, lobbying
groups, religions)
What are some examples of subjectivist deviance? - Answer -Drinking and driving,
legalization of cannabis, social acceptance of alcohol, squeegee kids
What are the main critiques of subjectivist theories? - Answer -What are the origins of
the deviance?, there is no help to solving the issue when we are classifying the act after
it occurs (need prevention)
What does the hybrid model hypothesize? - Answer -Says that deviance violates social
norms and those norms are observable (objectivist), but norms are a product of power
relations and moral entrepreneurs (subjectivist)
What are the 4 types of social control? - Answer -1. Formal: exercised and recognized
by social institutions (employer, justice system)
2. Informal: through informal interactions with friends and peers (no consequences)
3. Retroactive: deviance is already known and has happened
4. Preventative: helps to prevent deviance from occurring (socialization practices with
children)
, What are the core beliefs of positivist Emile Durkheim? - Answer -Was a functionalist
and an objectivist, who believed that deviance is a natural phenomenon because it
plays a function within society
What are Durkheim's 3 functions of deviance? - Answer -1. Increases social solidarity:
people come together in condemnation
2. Determines or tests moral boundaries
3. Reduces social tensions: scape goat effect, mechanism to release frustration
What is the main point of christian and sadist spiritual theories? - Answer -It was very
common to blame deviance on Satan or spiritual possession when someone was
morally corrupt, remedied through torture or exorcism
What are the 2 main types of societies? - Answer -traditional and modern industrial
societies
What is mechanic solidarity? - Answer -Exists within traditional societies, refers to order
shared via norms and values, function of sameness and commitment that creates a low
division of labour and a strong collective conscience
What is organic solidarity? - Answer -Order via independence and individuals being
highly interdependent on one another due to having a high division of labour, roles and
responsibilities are highly specialized and there is a weaker collective conscience, says
that deviance is attributed to situations or rapid social change
What is a good example of organic solidarity? - Answer -Great depression: norms and
bonds deteriorate, social control declines, people feel poorly integrated and "normless",
widespread self interest occurs and the social system becomes anomic
What are Durkheim's 4 types of suicide? - Answer -1. Egoistic: lacks social integration
with groups or organizations (single vs married, released prisoner)
2. Altruistic: profound identification to a group and its cause, willing to sacrifice life for
beliefs (terrorism)
3. Anomic: feel disconnected to society due to rapid social change that they commit
suicide
4. Fatalistic: over regulation that feels like society controls you and there is no way out
(cults, prison time)
What does the research say about suicide? - Answer -Immigrants have lower rates of
suicide, inmates and the elderly are at the highest risk (as age increases so does
disconnection)
What does Merton theorize? - Answer -Based on the concept that deviance occurs
when individuals are unable to meet the standards of the American dream (inability to
meet standards causes social strain)
What does an objectivist argue about crime? - Answer -Particular qualities or
characteristics make something deviant, the act is criminal "in and of itself", self-evident
and assumed
What are the 4 qualities of deviance from an objectivist point of view? - Answer -1.
Harm: physical or psychological harm
2. Rarity: anything that is socially rare
3. Negative social reaction: whether the act generates a reaction from the masses
4. Norm violation: whether it violates folkways or mores
What are the main critiques of the 4 objectivist deviant qualities? - Answer -1. Harm-
there can be things deviant but not harmful, and harmful but not deviant
2. Rarity- there are instances of rarity without deviance (heroic acts)
3. Negative social reaction: masses are not quantified, everyone has different
consensuses of deviant
4. Norm violation: not everyone prioritizes or possesses the same norms
What does a subjectivist argue about crime? - Answer -Argues that deviance is any
phenomenon defined as such, it is whatever society deems to be deviant at a point in
time (not inherently criminal), label makes it deviant
What are moral entrepreneurs? - Answer -Individuals or groups that go out of their way
to change the prevailing definition of deviant behaviour (media, scientists, lobbying
groups, religions)
What are some examples of subjectivist deviance? - Answer -Drinking and driving,
legalization of cannabis, social acceptance of alcohol, squeegee kids
What are the main critiques of subjectivist theories? - Answer -What are the origins of
the deviance?, there is no help to solving the issue when we are classifying the act after
it occurs (need prevention)
What does the hybrid model hypothesize? - Answer -Says that deviance violates social
norms and those norms are observable (objectivist), but norms are a product of power
relations and moral entrepreneurs (subjectivist)
What are the 4 types of social control? - Answer -1. Formal: exercised and recognized
by social institutions (employer, justice system)
2. Informal: through informal interactions with friends and peers (no consequences)
3. Retroactive: deviance is already known and has happened
4. Preventative: helps to prevent deviance from occurring (socialization practices with
children)
, What are the core beliefs of positivist Emile Durkheim? - Answer -Was a functionalist
and an objectivist, who believed that deviance is a natural phenomenon because it
plays a function within society
What are Durkheim's 3 functions of deviance? - Answer -1. Increases social solidarity:
people come together in condemnation
2. Determines or tests moral boundaries
3. Reduces social tensions: scape goat effect, mechanism to release frustration
What is the main point of christian and sadist spiritual theories? - Answer -It was very
common to blame deviance on Satan or spiritual possession when someone was
morally corrupt, remedied through torture or exorcism
What are the 2 main types of societies? - Answer -traditional and modern industrial
societies
What is mechanic solidarity? - Answer -Exists within traditional societies, refers to order
shared via norms and values, function of sameness and commitment that creates a low
division of labour and a strong collective conscience
What is organic solidarity? - Answer -Order via independence and individuals being
highly interdependent on one another due to having a high division of labour, roles and
responsibilities are highly specialized and there is a weaker collective conscience, says
that deviance is attributed to situations or rapid social change
What is a good example of organic solidarity? - Answer -Great depression: norms and
bonds deteriorate, social control declines, people feel poorly integrated and "normless",
widespread self interest occurs and the social system becomes anomic
What are Durkheim's 4 types of suicide? - Answer -1. Egoistic: lacks social integration
with groups or organizations (single vs married, released prisoner)
2. Altruistic: profound identification to a group and its cause, willing to sacrifice life for
beliefs (terrorism)
3. Anomic: feel disconnected to society due to rapid social change that they commit
suicide
4. Fatalistic: over regulation that feels like society controls you and there is no way out
(cults, prison time)
What does the research say about suicide? - Answer -Immigrants have lower rates of
suicide, inmates and the elderly are at the highest risk (as age increases so does
disconnection)
What does Merton theorize? - Answer -Based on the concept that deviance occurs
when individuals are unable to meet the standards of the American dream (inability to
meet standards causes social strain)
