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SOC100 Exam 3 Notes Questions with
Correct Answers for Specific Exam
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Deviance
Ans: • Violation of norms, ranging from minor to major
• Can have serious repercussions to social order, or can
be merely curious or humorous
• Howard Becker (1966)
o It is not the act itself, but the reactions to the act that
make something deviant.
• "Deviance" depends on group norms: different groups
have different norms, even within the same society.
Sociological view of deviance
Pretest - Stuvia US
,2
Ans: • A neutral term for sociologists; nonjudgmental
• All members of society are deviants of one sort of
another—we all violate norms from time to time
o The same act may be considered deviant or non-
deviant, depending on context.
• The act may not be inherently bad; but people respond
negatively.
Stigma
Ans: • Goffman (1963)
• Characteristics that discredit people
o E.g.
• Violation of norms of appearance
• Violation of norms of ability
• Involuntary membership in groups (a parent of a
murderer, a victim of leprosy)
• Stigma can become a person's master status: therefore
the whole person (the self) becomes defined at deviant,
and it is difficult to exit the stigma.
Laws in post-modern, democratic society
Pretest - Stuvia US
, 3
Ans: • Postmodern societies: "stories"
o Who's norms should prevail?
o Debate amongst competing values
• Who wins? (Functionalist view, conflict view)
• To be most effective, laws should be backed up by
norms.
o Drinking age, abortion, immigration, prayer in public,
schools, smoking, marijuana, same-sex marriage...
• (many or these attempt to govern private behavior)
• Unpopular laws may become unenforceable.
Functionalist view of deviance
Pretest - Stuvia US
SOC100 Exam 3 Notes Questions with
Correct Answers for Specific Exam
Deviance
Ans: • Violation of norms, ranging from minor to major
• Can have serious repercussions to social order, or can
be merely curious or humorous
• Howard Becker (1966)
o It is not the act itself, but the reactions to the act that
make something deviant.
• "Deviance" depends on group norms: different groups
have different norms, even within the same society.
Sociological view of deviance
Pretest - Stuvia US
,2
Ans: • A neutral term for sociologists; nonjudgmental
• All members of society are deviants of one sort of
another—we all violate norms from time to time
o The same act may be considered deviant or non-
deviant, depending on context.
• The act may not be inherently bad; but people respond
negatively.
Stigma
Ans: • Goffman (1963)
• Characteristics that discredit people
o E.g.
• Violation of norms of appearance
• Violation of norms of ability
• Involuntary membership in groups (a parent of a
murderer, a victim of leprosy)
• Stigma can become a person's master status: therefore
the whole person (the self) becomes defined at deviant,
and it is difficult to exit the stigma.
Laws in post-modern, democratic society
Pretest - Stuvia US
, 3
Ans: • Postmodern societies: "stories"
o Who's norms should prevail?
o Debate amongst competing values
• Who wins? (Functionalist view, conflict view)
• To be most effective, laws should be backed up by
norms.
o Drinking age, abortion, immigration, prayer in public,
schools, smoking, marijuana, same-sex marriage...
• (many or these attempt to govern private behavior)
• Unpopular laws may become unenforceable.
Functionalist view of deviance
Pretest - Stuvia US
