SOC 375 Deviant Behavior 2012

Study Questions for March 28 Exam

 

Note: You will not know in advance which questions will be selected for the exam so it is advisable to prepare for each question.  Remember the exam will be closed-notes and closed-book. Your answers should reflect the breadth of information presented in the class and must incorporate specific material from the course readings whenever appropriate.  Please bring a blank blue book to the exam.

 

One of the essay questions below will appear on your exam, plus there will be a short answer, fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice, true/false section based primarily on key terms from the text and your notes.

 

1.  Examine drug use and addiction from a sociological perspective.  Inlcude:

a) a definition of drugs from a sociological perspective

b) how is drug use built in to normal life?

c) how does one learn to be a marijuana user according to your textbook? 

d) how does becoming a marijuana user compare to becoming a heroin addict?

 

2. Analyze the costs, causes, motives, and opportunities associated with the case in the video “The Erin Brockovich Story.”  Apply two deviance theories to help you explain this case.

 

3. Discuss the research on “Convicted Rapists’ Vocabulary of Motives” by Scully and Marolla (1984).  Be sure to examine the excuses and justifications the authors found.  Also discuss the relationship between the excuses, justifications and actions.  How do these fit with the subculture of violence as an explanation for rape?

 

4. What is the typical occasional offender like? How do they compare to other types of nonviolent offenders? How do they compare to white collar offenders?  How do they compare to organized criminals?  Why is organized crime so hard to eradicate?

 

 

 

 

Good Luck