The sociology of deviance is a specialised branch within the broader field of sociology that is specifically concerned with the systematic study of behaviours, actions, or characteristics that violate social norms and expectations, and with understanding the social processes through which some behaviours and individuals come to be identified, defined, and treated as deviant within a society. This field explores a wide range of topics, including the social construction of deviance, the different theories that attempt to explain why deviance occurs (such as strain theory, labeling theory, and conflict theory), the social control mechanisms that societies use to regulate deviance, the consequences of deviance for individuals and society, and the social and cultural variations in what is considered deviant across different groups and time periods.