Which term means failure to conform to the customary norms of society?

• A. Caste system
• B. Clique
• C. Community
• D. Deviation

Answer: (D)

Deviation is the term for actions that don’t follow the customary rules or expectations of a society. Norms provide shared guidelines for how people should behave, and when someone’s behavior diverges from those guidelines, it’s seen as deviant. This idea helps explain why some conduct draws social sanctions or labeling, and it’s context-dependent—what counts as deviation can vary across cultures and situations.

The other terms describe social structures or groups rather than violations of norms. A caste system refers to a fixed hierarchical ranking by birth, a clique is a small exclusive social circle, and a community is a broader group sharing locality or identity.