Rules are created by social groups to establish what is considered acceptable behavior. When these rules are violated, the individual responsible may be deemed an outsider. However, those who break the rules may perceive the rule-makers as the true outsiders, imposing their rules unjustly.

The concept of deviance is multifaceted. One way to understand it is through statistical deviance, which simply refers to deviation from an average. However, this can include harmless differences, such as being left-handed. Another perspective is pathological deviance, which likens rule-breaking to a disease. Yet, there is no universal agreement on which behaviors are considered healthy or unhealthy. The social dysfunction perspective sees deviance as a factor that destabilizes society. However, what causes stability or instability in society is a matter of politics.

A more practical approach is to define deviance as the act of violating social rules. However, deviance is not solely dependent on the act itself, but also on the reaction it elicits from others. The same action can be considered deviant in one context but not in another. Laws are not applied uniformly across different groups, and some violations of rules go unpunished.

Therefore, deviance is not merely about the act of breaking rules. It also depends on how others perceive and react to these actions. Outsiders are not just those who violate rules, but those who are successfully labeled as such.

Rules vary across different social groups, reflecting their specific needs and traditions. When one group attempts to enforce its rules on another, conflict can ensue. Groups with more power are often more successful in enforcing their rules on less powerful groups. The concept of deviance underscores the disagreements over whose rules should be followed.