Question

The subject of this book is knavery, skullduggery, cheating, betrayal, unfairness, crime, sneakiness, malingering, cutting corner, immorality, dishonesty, betrayal, graft, wickedness, and sin.
Which of the following options best captures ALL the italicized words above?

• A. Aggressive behaviours
• B. Illegal behaviours
• C. Deviant behaviours
• D. Banned behaviours
• E. Vetoed behaviours

Hint:

When options differ by \textit{scope}, choose the one that \textbf{minimally overgeneralizes} yet \textbf{includes all examples}. “Deviant” is broader than “illegal” or “banned,” so it best subsumes mixed moral and legal wrongs.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Identify the common idea behind the listed words.
The list mixes \textit{moral} and \textit{legal} wrongs: e.g., {immorality, wickedness, sin} (moral/ethical), {dishonesty, cheating, betrayal, skullduggery, cutting corners, sneakiness, malingering} (socially frowned upon norm-violations), and {crime, graft} (explicitly illegal). The thread tying them together is violation of accepted norms (moral, social, or legal).
Step 2: Test each option against this scope.
- (A) Aggressive behaviours: Too narrow; many items (e.g., {malingering, dishonesty}) are not aggressive.
- (B) Illegal behaviours: Too narrow; several items ({betrayal, unfairness, sneakiness, cutting corners}) can be unethical yet not necessarily illegal.
- (C) Deviant behaviours: Deviance means departing from societal norms; it flexibly covers immoral, unethical, and illegal acts—hence includes \textit{all} listed items.
- (D) Banned behaviours: Implies explicit prohibition; again, some listed acts may be condemned but not formally banned.
- (E) Vetoed behaviours: “Vetoed” applies to decisions/proposals, not conduct in general; category mismatch.
Step 3: Conclude.
Only Deviant behaviours captures the full set—norm violations across moral, social, and legal domains.
\[ \boxed{\text{Correct Answer: (C) Deviant behaviours}} \]