The term deviance can be defined as the absence of conformity. Deviant acts are acts that violate the social norm. All deviant acts are mala prohibita, or evil because laws prohibit it. (Anderson 2014) For example, speeding on your way to work would be considered deviant because it is against the law, not only because it is looked down upon and goes against societies set of norms. Deviant acts can vary by time, place, content, and person (Anderson 2014). This means that something that is considered deviant in America might not be considered so in Africa, or an act that is considered deviant in 2014 might not be in 2050. An example of deviance in content would be killing. We think of murder to be mala in se, evil in itself, but what if the killer was a military personal defending his country? Would his act be subjected to being labeled deviant like any other serial killer? The important thing to be acknowledged when talking of deviance is that it changes. The term deviant is constantly adjusting to fit society’s norms. The theory that I have chosen is the social control theory. This theory basically talks about why people conform. It states that all people have the potential to violate laws, but many choose not to. Modern society presents many opportunities for illegal activity. Criminal activities are often exciting with immediate rewards and gratifications. (Anderson 2014) The following is a list of reasons this theory believes why people obey the rules of society and avoids deviant behaviors. First, their behavior is being controlled by internal and external forces. For example internal forces being ones personality and external being others who influence them to do something. Second, People have a strong moral sense of right and wrong, so they are incapable of hurting others and are afraid to violate social norms. Thirdly, people have an active impression of their conventional institutions. (Anderson 2014) They know if they break the rules of society their work place and the individuals around them will notice and disapprove, thus jeopardizing their achievements that