Social Deviance When a person is asked to think of social deviance he or she may think of images that are ignorant and appalling. The definition of deviant behavior varies from one person to another, but Albert Cohen has attempted to specify some of the assumptions and definitions. Cohen defines deviant behavior as “behavior which violates institutionalized expectations, that is, expectations which are shared and recognized as legitimate within a social system.” In short and easy ways of saying, social deviance is the violation of social norms. Norms include folkways, mores, and laws. Furthermore, deviant behavior will never exist w