Chapter Activities

1. Over the course of several days, browse the print or online editions of a major U.S. newspaper (be sure to check each section of the paper, not just the front page). Identify and record the various types of criminal deviance reported in the news. Are certain types of criminal deviance represented more than others? Which ones? Overall, did it seem like criminal deviance was a major or minor part of news coverage?

2. Over the course of two days maintain a diary of every act or behavior in which you engage that could be considered deviant or criminally deviant by anyone else. Also record any other aspects of yourself – for instance, medical conditions – that people might consider deviant if they knew about them. Review your list of “personal deviance.” Are you surprised by how often or rarely the label of “deviant” could be applied to you? To what extent does your recorded deviance conflict with your perception of yourself as a nondeviant (or deviant) person?

3. Listen to the podcast Criminal, Episode 32: “It Looked Like Fire”. Who is the “criminal” in this podcast – Ed or the police? Make your case by using one of the theories of social deviance discussed in the text. Where you surprised by whom you considered the “criminal?” Why or why not?

4. Form small groups of 3–4 people. Your instructor will assign to your group one of the following forms of deviance. Within your group, you must reach a consensus in order to construct an argument for why the deviant act you have been assigned should not be considered deviant. Prepare to argue your group’s perspective before the class:

a) prostitution;

b) downloading movies from a free site instead of paying for it;

c) cheating and plagiarism;

d) hard drug use (cocaine, crack, heroin, methamphetamine);

e) marijuana use;

f) drinking alcohol under age 21;

g) taking items from your workplace for use at home.

Which of the types of deviance listed were the easiest to argue should not be considered deviant? Which were the most challenging?