Deviance can be a hard word to define because the concept is used in many different contexts. Many sociological theories define the theory of deviance, but these definitions differ. Deviance was first clearly defined by Lemert. Since then, the term has been defined in various ways and is still commonly used in fields such as criminology and sociology. With respect to criminology, deviance occurs when someone engages in conduct that is against norms, values, or laws. Because this definition of deviance is culture‐dependent, it is difficult to reach an objective consensus as to what conduct is actually deviant. Unfortunately, this lack of definitional consensus has led to various problems in the legal system, as well as in policy.