Test Bank
Thio’s Deviant Behavior, 13th Edition
by Jim D. Taylor, Martin D. Schwartz
2025|| All Chapters Covered|| Latest Edition
1
,CHAPTER ONE
What Is Deviant Behavior?
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which statement about the definition of deviance is TRUE?
a) Almost all persons in a society will agree on the nature of deviant behavior.
b) Definitions of deviant behavior are determined by consensus among a nation’s religious
groups.
c) There is often a great deal of disagreement among people as to who or what they consider
deviant.
d) Few persons in a society are concerned about the definition of deviance.
Correct Answer: c
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify your personal definitions of deviant behavior. Topic: Conflicting
Definitions
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
2. In 1965, sociologist J. L. Simmons asked a sample of people from the general public who
they thought were deviant. Which conclusion can be reached based on Simmons’ results?
a) Only those considered to be “bad people,” such as drug addicts, prostitutes, or criminals,
were seen as deviant.
b) There was a great deal of consensus among those polled as to who was deviant and who
was not.
c) Perceptions of deviance fell clearly into four main categories.
d) Almost anyone, in someone else s eyes, can be considered deviant in some way.
Correct Answer: d
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify your personal definitions of deviant behavior. Topic: Conflicting
Definitions
2
,Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Analyze It
3. Among sociologists, there is
a) much personal involvement in illegal deviant behavior.
b) a growing awareness that deviance is best studied by criminologists.
c) widespread agreement about what behavior should be considered deviant.
d) a lack of consensus about what kinds of behavior should be seen as deviant.
Correct Answer: d
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify your personal definitions of deviant behavior. Topic: Conflicting
Definitions
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
4. Compared to the others, which group is most capable of avoiding being falsely,
erroneously, or unjustly labeled as deviant?
a) Affluent people
b) People living below the poverty line
c) People in positions of power
d) People who are socially powerless
Correct Answer: c
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify your personal definitions of deviant behavior. Topic: Conflicting
Definitions
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
5. Denis relies on a wheelchair because of his cerebral palsy. Would he be considered
“deviant” according to some definitions offered by sociologists?
3
, a) Yes, because the mere fact of using a wheelchair violates formal norms
b) No, because deviance only applies to people who break laws or commit violent acts
c) Yes, because people with disabilities are often devalued by society
d) No, because his positive/negative “deviance ratio” is imbalanced
Correct Answer: c
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify your personal definitions of deviant behavior. Topic: Conflicting
Definitions
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
6. Which statement about deviance is TRUE?
a) Deviance should include only important violations of norms.
b) All sociologists agree that deviance includes mundane, routine, and normal violations of
formal norms.
c) Deviance is considered a “fringe topic” by most sociologists.
d) Sociologists do not agree on a precise definition of deviance.
Correct Answer: d
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify your personal definitions of deviant behavior. Topic: Conflicting
Definitions
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
7. Which types of people are examples of positive deviants?
a) Saints, intellectuals, and geniuses
b) Sex workers and professional gamblers
c) People who are badly scarred, blind, or mutilated
d) Murderers, rapists, and kidnappers
4
Thio’s Deviant Behavior, 13th Edition
by Jim D. Taylor, Martin D. Schwartz
2025|| All Chapters Covered|| Latest Edition
1
,CHAPTER ONE
What Is Deviant Behavior?
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which statement about the definition of deviance is TRUE?
a) Almost all persons in a society will agree on the nature of deviant behavior.
b) Definitions of deviant behavior are determined by consensus among a nation’s religious
groups.
c) There is often a great deal of disagreement among people as to who or what they consider
deviant.
d) Few persons in a society are concerned about the definition of deviance.
Correct Answer: c
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify your personal definitions of deviant behavior. Topic: Conflicting
Definitions
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
2. In 1965, sociologist J. L. Simmons asked a sample of people from the general public who
they thought were deviant. Which conclusion can be reached based on Simmons’ results?
a) Only those considered to be “bad people,” such as drug addicts, prostitutes, or criminals,
were seen as deviant.
b) There was a great deal of consensus among those polled as to who was deviant and who
was not.
c) Perceptions of deviance fell clearly into four main categories.
d) Almost anyone, in someone else s eyes, can be considered deviant in some way.
Correct Answer: d
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify your personal definitions of deviant behavior. Topic: Conflicting
Definitions
2
,Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Analyze It
3. Among sociologists, there is
a) much personal involvement in illegal deviant behavior.
b) a growing awareness that deviance is best studied by criminologists.
c) widespread agreement about what behavior should be considered deviant.
d) a lack of consensus about what kinds of behavior should be seen as deviant.
Correct Answer: d
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify your personal definitions of deviant behavior. Topic: Conflicting
Definitions
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
4. Compared to the others, which group is most capable of avoiding being falsely,
erroneously, or unjustly labeled as deviant?
a) Affluent people
b) People living below the poverty line
c) People in positions of power
d) People who are socially powerless
Correct Answer: c
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify your personal definitions of deviant behavior. Topic: Conflicting
Definitions
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
5. Denis relies on a wheelchair because of his cerebral palsy. Would he be considered
“deviant” according to some definitions offered by sociologists?
3
, a) Yes, because the mere fact of using a wheelchair violates formal norms
b) No, because deviance only applies to people who break laws or commit violent acts
c) Yes, because people with disabilities are often devalued by society
d) No, because his positive/negative “deviance ratio” is imbalanced
Correct Answer: c
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify your personal definitions of deviant behavior. Topic: Conflicting
Definitions
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
6. Which statement about deviance is TRUE?
a) Deviance should include only important violations of norms.
b) All sociologists agree that deviance includes mundane, routine, and normal violations of
formal norms.
c) Deviance is considered a “fringe topic” by most sociologists.
d) Sociologists do not agree on a precise definition of deviance.
Correct Answer: d
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify your personal definitions of deviant behavior. Topic: Conflicting
Definitions
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
7. Which types of people are examples of positive deviants?
a) Saints, intellectuals, and geniuses
b) Sex workers and professional gamblers
c) People who are badly scarred, blind, or mutilated
d) Murderers, rapists, and kidnappers
4
