Deviance is a broad concept that has been studied for centuries by many different disciplines, but it is most often associated with the field of sociology. Generally speaking, deviance refers to behavior that violates social norms and expectations and goes against accepted standards of conduct. It can refer to anything from minor transgressions such as failing to stand during the national anthem at a sporting event or being late for work to more serious violations like theft, assault, vandalism, or murder. While not all forms of deviant behavior are illegal, they may still be considered inappropriate by society's standards and cause harm either directly or indirectly.

Sociologists have long sought to understand why people engage in certain types of behaviors that violate social norms and expectations. Many sociologists view deviance as an inevitable part of any functioning society; while some forms of deviant behavior may be harmful or dangerous, others serve important functions within society—such as providing boundaries between acceptable and unacceptable behavior—and thus should not necessarily be labeled "deviant" per se.

The way we define what constitutes "deviant" behavior is largely determined by cultural values and beliefs that vary across societies around the world; this means that something that might be considered "normal" in one culture could very well be seen as highly abnormal in another context (for example, polyamory). Furthermore, certain groups within societies also tend to experience higher levels of stigma due to their race, ethnicity, class status, gender identity, etc., leading them to be at greater risk for criminalization and marginalization than other members who do not share these characteristics even when engaging in similar activities (e.g., poverty-stricken individuals are far more likely than wealthy ones to face legal consequences if caught stealing food out of desperation). This demonstrates how power dynamics play into our understanding and labeling process when it comes to determining what counts as 'deviation' from societal rules—those on top wield influence over what gets stigmatized and punished vs. normalized and ignored depending on whether their interests align with particular moral codes at any given time. 

Theories about why people commit acts deemed "deviant" range widely among scholars—from biological explanations rooted in genetics/heredity, psychoanalytic theories focused on personality traits, conflict theories attributing criminality to economic disparities, to control theory focusing on external constraints imposed upon us through formal systems like education and law enforcement. Ultimately, though no single answer exists, since the human motivation behind engagement or any type of nonconforming behavior is so complex and multifaceted, multiple overlapping factors contribute to a person's likelihood of participating in socially undesirable activity despite the potential costs of doing so. This complexity further highlights the importance of examining broader structural issues surrounding crime rather than individualizing blame solely on perpetrators themselves, moving forward in constructive ways to address root causes that lead to problematic behaviors. 

In conclusion, although the term 'deviancy' describes negative aspects of breaking laws and conforming to customs set out by a larger collective body, public opinion doesn't necessarily mean a bad thing, nor does it indicate a uniform universal definition that applies universally to all scenarios presented in everyday life. Each situation must be taken into account in order to gain a full understanding of the nuances involved and make informed decisions possible going forward, both inside and outside the academic realm.