Chapter Presentation Questions
There are 6 chapters to present. Each group presents 1 chapter and is responsible for
answering questions below as well as covering any other topics related to the chapter that
Professor Burnett will discuss.
Each group will earn up to a total of 25 points for this exercise and 25 points for the later
chapter that each group will present without Professor Burnett. One summary, answering
the questions associated with each chapter will be turned into the drop-box with the
names of those who “actually” participated prior to the class presentation.
Chapter 1 Presentation: Group 1
1. Discuss the relationship between social power and deviance. Pp. 11-12
2. Compare and contrast countercultures and subcultures. Based on your comparison,
why should outlaw motorcycle gangs be considered countercultures? Pp. 12-15
3. Discuss how nudist camps and norms regarding cigarette smoking reflect the
relativity of deviance. Pp. 14, 19-20
4. Are deviant behaviors and conditions analogous to social problems? Why or why not?
Pp. 20-21
5. Describe the normative, statistical, absolutist, and reactivist conceptions or definitions
of deviance. Provide examples for each type. Pp. 4-8
Chapter 2 Presentation: Group #2
1. Discuss the pros and cons of the three criteria for the kinds of problems the law
should address mentioned in the text. Pp. 36-37
2. Write a story about someone who engages in primary deviance and then becomes a
secondary deviant. Make sure your story teaches the reader about the concepts of
primary and secondary deviance and how one becomes a secondary deviant. Pp. 3840
3. Steve has sex with his best friend’s girlfriend. Creatively provide examples of the
different types of sanctions Steve could receive for his actions (positive formal,
negative formal, positive informal, and negative informal). P. 29
4. Why is it important to examine deviant events, and not just deviant acts? Pp. 23-24
5. Why are certain places more associated with deviance than others? Pp. 25-26
Chapter 3 Presentation: Group #3
1. Discuss the reasons why it is helpful to view deviant behavior in terms of roles. Pp.
43-49
2. Is there a strong or weak relationship between biological factors and deviant
behavior? How do we know and why? Pp. 58-59
3. Jim is a member of a swingers group. He and his wife go to swinger parties where
they have sex with different sex partners. Discuss how Jim and his wife might utilize
all of the different techniques for managing stigma mentioned in the text. Pp. 52-55
4. Discuss the criticisms of the rational choice approach mentioned in the text. Pp. 66-67
5. What are the common limitations among the different individualistic theories of
deviance? P.68
Chapter 4 Presentation: Group #4
1. Jim and Sarah are members of the lower class. They are unable to achieve the
American Dream because of the structural barriers placed on their situation, and
therefore suffer from Anomie. Write five scenarios where Jim and Sarah adapt to
anomie in the following ways: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and
rebellion. Pp. 72-73
2. Messner and Rosenfeld argue that American values can help to promote crime when
those vales are exaggerated. What are those values, and use examples from
contemporary society to explain how those values promote crime. P. 74
3. Discuss how the current “war on drugs” is a reflection of the theories of conflict
theorists. Pp. 76-80
4. Discuss the limitations of both anomie theory and conflict theories. Can anomie
theory help address some of the shortcomings of conflict theories, and can conflict
theories help address some of the shortcomings of anomie theories? Why or why not?
Pp. 74-76; 81-83
5. Discuss the policy ideas from Left Realists to reduce crime. How do their policy
ideas compare with current criminal justice policies? Do you think the policies of left
realists would substantially reduce crime in the United States when compared to the
status quo? Pp. 80-81
Chapter 5 Presentation: Group#5
1. How does social power play an important role in determining standards for deviance
in society? Pp. 88-89
2. Discuss the limitations of labeling theory as outlined in the textbook. Despite the
limitations, how does labeling theory contribute to our understanding of deviance?
Pp. 89-92
3. Discuss the limitations of control theories in general and Gottfredson and Hirschi’s
low-self control theory in particular. Which theory of Hirschi’s (control theory or
low-self control theory) explains deviance better in your opinion? Pp. 96-98
4. Even though socialization is important in most all theories of deviance, why aren’t
anomie and control theories considered learning theories? P. 101
5. Why has learning or socialization theory received widespread acceptance among
sociologists? P. 102
Chapter 6 Presentation: Group #6
1. Discuss why it is better to classify criminals according to a typology based on
behavior systems. What separates those who have criminal careers from the rest of
the population? Pp. 108-110
2. What is the subcultural theory of violence? Do you think there is strong empirical
support for it? Why or why not? Pp. 116-118
3. What are the risk factors or family characteristics associated with child abuse,
including sexual abuse? Pp. 123
4. Why is it necessary to view rape in a political context? Pp. 133-134
5. Describe the kinds of efforts that appear to work in reducing instances of murder,
assault, and rape. If you were able to implement policies to reduce these offenses in
your community, what would you implement? Pp. 138-140