Choose the Correct Option for the Following Crime Terms Flashcards

1. In the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, one of the inmates in the mental hospital tells the other inmates that they are not crazy and they should not act as though they were crazy just because the head nurse tells them they are. Which of the following theories best explains the inmates’ behaviors? a. Labeling b. Anomie c. Rational choice d. Structural strain e. Differential association

1. The widespread availability of firearms is one of the most plausible explanations for why violent crime is more prevalent in the United States compared to other Western societies. a. True b. False

1. White-collar crime is essentially nonviolent since it does not physically harm or kill anyone. a. True b. False

1. If you live in a high crime area, many of the people you will befriend will be involved in criminal activities, thus increasing your opportunity to learn criminal behavior. The theory/perspective that best explains this phenomenon is known as: a. Social deviance b. Environmental deviance c. Nonconformity d. Labeling e. Differential association

1. Many sociologists today argue that: a. Crime is more prevalent among the upper classes b. People in different classes are likely to commit different types of crimes c. Crime is more prevalent among the middle classes d. Crime is more prevalent among the lower classes e. None of the above; there is no relationship between class and crime

1. Durkheim argues that one of the functions of deviance is that it allows us to understand the standards of a society. a. True b. False

1. According to _________ theorists, the criminal justice system has become increasingly oppressive toward working-class offenders and in tax regulation that disproportionately favors the wealthy. a. Conflict b. Labeling c. Functionalists d. Interactionists

1. Functionalist theories emphasize connections between conformity and deviance in different social contexts. A common criticism of this approach, however, is that: a. Most people adjust their aspirations to their reality and functionalists tend to presume everyone has middle-class values b. There is no sense in connecting the macrosociological to the microsociological c. American society no longer experiences internal contradictions d. It is outdated as their premises no longer apply in the information age e. The aspirations held by groups in society do not coincide with available rewards

1.      Merton modified Durkheim’s concept of anomie to put forth a theory of deviance that emphasized structural strain as a cause. From this perspective, organized crime members would be viewed as: a.      Rebels b.      Innovators c.       Ritualists d.      Conformists e.      Retreatists

1.      The functional analysis of deviance and crime has attempted to address one of the pressing questions in the study of deviance: the issue that although society has become much more affluent, crime rates remain high. a.      True b.      False

1.      White-collar crime is carried out by the more affluent members of society so its impact is not very insignificant. a.      True b.      False

1.      Labeling theorists interpret deviance as: a.      A tool for the preservation of power in the ruling class b.      Something that anyone would do given the opportunity c.       A process of interaction between deviants and nondeviants d.      A macrosociological phenomenon determining social construction e.      A genetic component of personality and socialization

1.      Why has illegal drug use in the United States continued to escalate even though billions of dollars have been spent to curb its use? a.      Some people are genetically deviant, and their numbers are growing as more and more people become addicted to drugs b.      Drug users are mostly political neophytes who enjoy taunting the legal system c.       The U.S. officials in charge of the so-called war on drugs have been corrupted by the Russian mafia d.      The profits from drugs are so high, and the ease of moving the drugs and money across global areas is so great, more drugs are being sold e.      None of the above; sociological research on crime and deviance is inconclusive

1.      Sociological research and theory suggest that: a.      The problem of crime and deviance could easily be solved by building more prisons and increasing incarceration rates b.      High crime rates are the price we pay for encouraging freedom and nonconformity c.       Crime and deviance are rooted in the structure of society, including poverty, urban conditions, and the crises faced by many young men d.      Deviance is primarily an inborn character trait and could be eliminated by genetic engineering e.      None of the above; sociological research on crime and deviance is inconclusive

1.      Sociological studies show that prisons: a.      Are effective at deterring crime b.      Reinforce low recidivism rates c.       Will be obsolete by 2035 d.      Are more likely to create hardened criminals than rehabilitated citizens e.      Focus on rehabilitation