Deviant behavior in terms of general social conditions is constantly changing. Deviance is not just about numbers, nor is it about what is less common. Deviant acts are not necessarily against the law but are considered abnormal and may be considered immoral rather than illegal. An act is deviant because most would consider it immoral rather than criminal because it is not against the laws of that jurisdiction. Other acts of deviance are not necessarily immoral but are considered strange and violate social norms. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essaySocial norms are behaviors that are accepted either by a large group of people or by those who have the power to enforce them. These types of deviant acts are significant although they are not considered criminal under the legal definition. Although some aspects of personality can be inherited, psychologists largely view personality as a matter of socialization and deviance as a matter of inappropriate socialization. Individuals participating in these types of acts may exhibit a tendency toward antisocial behavior often linked to criminal behavior. Although both biological and psychological approaches are useful, each is limited in its explanation of deviance because they only understand deviance as an anomaly and do not answer the question of why things that are deviant are considered deviant in the first place. place. Additionally, many jurisdictions are moving to declare these deviant behaviors illegal, while others are doing the opposite and no longer considering them illegal. Social control is an attempt to regulate people's thoughts and behaviors in ways that control or punish deviance. These negative sanctions are negative social reactions to deviance. In contrast, positive sanctions are affirmative reactions generally in response to compliance. Formal sanctioning of deviance occurs when norms are codified into law, and violation almost always results in negative sanctions from the criminal justice system. Sociologist Jackson Toby proposed a theory of delinquency stating that these deviant tendencies were shared equally among all individuals. Additionally, Toby's concept of the compliance issue can be used to explain what prevents most people from committing crime. The compliance issue is the extent to which individuals are willing to take risks by breaking the law or committing to the norms of traditional society. Agreeing on what is considered deviant behavior is important because studies have shown that the issue of conformity is one of the most influential factors in an individual's decision to offend. Individuals who have nothing to lose are more likely to take risks and violate norms than those who have relatively more invested in traditional norms. Functionalists and sociologists believe that deviance can have positive functions for society and plays an important role in society, for example by being used to challenge people's opinions. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get Custom Essay Émile Durkheim concluded that deviance is an essential component of any strong society. He argued that deviance can serve two necessary functions. It maintains stability..