French sociologist Emile Durkheim believed that deviance served three main functions. The first is that by crossing certain boundaries, deviants reaffirm society's norms. The breaking of these norms results in a response that helps people define what is appropriate behavior. The second function of deviance is that it furthers the unity of the society. When people agree on certain norms of behavior and what constitutes a violation of this behavior, the society becomes more unified as a result. The third function of deviance is that it helps to promote change in the society. If a deviant person starts a dialogue about what is acceptable in society, the rules and norms of that society might begin to change over time. People who are innovators often begin as deviants before their behavior becomes a new norm. 

In Sociology, deviance is any type of behavior which violates the accepted social norms. For Emile Durkheim, deviance, although generally negative, fulfils a number of positive...

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