Final answer:
Deviance in sociological terms is a departure from societal norms and expectations and encompasses behavior that doesn't necessarily have to be criminal. It is defined relative to culture and society, and social control mechanisms are used to manage and respond to deviance. Correct option is C.
Step-by-step explanation:
In sociological terms, deviance refers to a departure from societal norms or expectations (C). It is not solely an act that goes against legal codes but includes any behavior that deviates from the norms established within a culture or society. For instance, while picking your nose in public may be frowned upon as deviant behavior, it does not constitute a crime. On the other hand, crimes are types of deviance that violate formal laws and are subject to formal sanctions.
What constitutes deviance can vary greatly depending upon the cultural or social context, which underscores its relative nature. What is seen as deviant in one society may be acceptable in another, or what is considered deviant today might not be in the future. The sociological understanding of deviance includes the idea that deviance itself can act as a catalyst for social change, by highlighting areas of injustice and prompting communities to reassess and amend their social norms and legal codes.
Social control mechanisms are ways in which society attempts to regulate people's behaviors, limiting and curtailing deviance through various types of sanctions. These can be informal sanctions, like frowns and social exclusion, or formal sanctions that come in the form of legal penalties. Sociological theories such as the differential association theory and labeling theory explore various aspects of how individuals come to be labeled as deviant, and how society's reaction to deviance can reinforce or diminish said behavior.