Test Bank for Deviance Conformity and Social Control in Canada 5th Edition Bereska

Chapter 01: Determining Deviance

1. According to some deviance specialists, recent definitions of deviance have largely come to
accept the notion of an observable characteristic that all "deviants" share.
a True
b False


Difficulty: Moderate
QuestionID: 01-01
Page-Reference: 4
Skill: C

Answer: b. False

2. Defining deviance on the basis of statistical rarity is more common in everyday conversation
than in scientific research.
a True
b False


Difficulty: Moderate
QuestionID: 01-02
Page-Reference: 4
Skill: F

Answer: a. True

3. The fact that left-handedness is considered acceptable in Canadian society suggests that
there are limitations to defining deviance on the basis of statistical rarity.
a True
b False


Difficulty: Moderate
QuestionID: 01-03
Page-Reference: 5
Skill: A

Answer: a. True

4. According to the definition of deviance that emphasizes harm, something is "deviant" only if
it harms someone else rather than oneself.
a True
b False


Difficulty: Easy
QuestionID: 01-04
Page-Reference: 5
Skill: C

Answer: b. False




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,5. One of the limitations of using harm as the defining characteristic of deviance is that
perceptions of harm change over time.
a True
b False


Difficulty: Easy
QuestionID: 01-05
Page-Reference: 6-8
Skill: C

Answer: a. True

6. In the early 20th century, social activist Emily Murphy claimed that marijuana use caused
extreme violence, insanity, and death. When we evaluate her claims today, we can see one of
the limitations of defining deviance on the basis of negative societal reaction.
a True
b False


Difficulty: Challenging
QuestionID: 01-06
Page-Reference: 8
Skill: A

Answer: b. False

7. A century ago, doctors claimed that masturbation caused acne, hairy palms, and insanity.
When we consider these claims today, we can see one of the limitations of defining deviance
on the basis of harm.
a True
b False


Difficulty: Challenging
QuestionID: 01-07
Page-Reference: 6-7
Skill: A

Answer: a. True

8. Because most Canadians disapprove of heroin use, we can say that heroin use is "deviant",
according to the definition of deviance that emphasizes negative societal reaction.
a True
b False


Difficulty: Moderate
QuestionID: 01-08
Page-Reference: 10-11
Skill: A

Answer: a. True




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, 9. Under leader Stephen Harper, the Conservative Party of Canada held free votes in
Parliament (as a proxy for societal reaction) on the two "hot-button" issues of the day—same
sex marriage and the decriminalization of marijuana.
a True
b False


Difficulty: Moderate
QuestionID: 01-09
Page-Reference: 10
Skill: F

Answer: b. False

10. One of the limitations of defining deviance on the basis of a negative societal reaction is
that there are usually varying reactions to the same act, wherein different groups of people in
society have different opinions on the same issue.
a True
b False


Difficulty: Easy
QuestionID: 01-10
Page-Reference: 10-11
Skill: C

Answer: a. True

11. A question that some people raise about defining deviance on the basis of societal reaction
is whether some people's reactions (e.g. the Prime Minister's) count more than other people's
reactions (e.g. a homeless person's).
a True
b False


Difficulty: Easy
QuestionID: 01-11
Page-Reference: 10
Skill: C

Answer: a. True

12. Criminal laws, which define the social norms and subsequent behaviours that are deemed
deviant, are born from consensus.
a True
b False


Difficulty: Moderate
QuestionID: 01-12
Page-Reference: 12-13
Skill: C

Answer: b. False




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