It can be said that the term education has a history as old as humanity itself, because education aims to transfer culture from generation to generation in society and prepare for it. According to some researchers and sociologists, the education system of a society continues uninterruptedly, and its impact cannot be compared with anything. Within many societies and organizations, basic and primary education has become the main object of research. The sociology of education is approached from a sociological perspective, the education system is taken as an important social system, in which case attention is paid to its relationship with society and its various elements. It makes no sense to give examples of the importance of education for the country. However, these examples can be the basis for observing what kind of product is created within the system of these elements. The product of the education system is human resources, in which case they work in professions such as workers, employers, teachers, engineers, pilots, managers, security guards, lawyers, presidents, and so on. If the education system is not suitable for the implementation of this activity, then how can it be possible to talk about it? In other words, in this case, investments are wasted. The efforts made on behalf of responsible administrators and organizations are also in vain. The effects of this are felt throughout the country. The functioning of the life-support system is put at risk. In order to sustain their existence and ensure their future lifestyles, and establish their national security, many countries are planning the future development prospects of their education systems, striving for development on a regional scale, transforming them through innovation, structural restructuring, and reconstruction, and establishing their primary education systems in line with current requirements. If this does not happen, if education is not considered the primary concern of high-ranking state officials, then the future of the country remains in question.

The mechanism of social development in any society is fundamentally built upon mutual respect, harmonious interpersonal relations, stable behavioral norms, and appropriate methods of upbringing. To ensure this, it is essential to establish a healthy social environment, apply suitable educational methods, and adhere to the traditional customs and behavioral standards embedded in the society’s collective memory across generations. However, in contrast to these normative constructs, the phenomenon of deviance also exists—a behavioral framework rooted in an individual’s socio-psychological world, level of consciousness, interaction with the surrounding environment, and the mechanisms shaping the broader societal structure. Deviance refers to a sequence of behaviors observed in individuals that deviate from accepted societal norms, moral standards, and the traditional methods of upbringing. These behaviors are often incompatible with established social systems or are perceived as foreign or abnormal, and in many cases, rebellious in nature. Historically, deviant behavior has been observed across all human societies. In contemporary times, deviance is particularly characteristic of youth lifestyles and manifests in various forms, including alcoholism, drug addiction, domestic conflicts, criminal behavior, moral decline, depression, suicide, and other related issues. The study of deviant behavior holds significant relevance for both Iranian and Azerbaijani societies, especially in identifying effective preventive measures tailored to each socio-cultural context. Today, we live in a modern society that is rapidly integrating with Europe and embracing new values and organized social systems. Our contemporary society is marked by diversity and multidimensionality. In this context, it is critically important for young people in our country—amid the process of global integration—to adopt proper educational and moral development frameworks. This includes respecting and reinforcing socially accepted norms and values, preserving moral traditions, and understanding the mechanisms and expressions of moral growth. As the world continues to globalize, its effects—both positive and negative—inevitably influence newly emerging, economically stable societies. On the positive side, such influences can enhance the intellectual potential of youth, fostering their development into honest, patriotic, and socially responsible individuals. Conversely, negative influences may arise due to a lack of willpower or ineffective parenting, leading to the adoption and normalization of inappropriate or deviant behaviors.

This study examined the value preferences of 392 undergraduate students from health sciences, science and literature, and education faculties at universities in Tabriz during the 2023–2024 academic year, using a stratified random sampling method to ensure balanced representation of both entry-level and senior students. The findings reveal that students prioritize academic achievement, family welfare, and interpersonal harmony as core values guiding their behavior and aspirations. Moral values such as responsibility, honesty, and integrity were highly endorsed, indicating that ethical consciousness remains significant despite contemporary challenges. However, values related to formal recognition and social prestige showed greater variability, reflecting personal, cultural, and contextual influences. The results underscore the crucial role of educational environments in shaping students’ psychosocial and moral development, aligning with Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory that emphasizes the impact of school contexts as critical microsystems. Positive educational experiences reinforce moral values and promote well-being, while academic pressures, teacher-student misalignment, peer conflicts, and institutional shortcomings pose challenges that may adversely affect students’ mental health, social adjustment, and ethical sensitivity. The complex interaction of individual traits, family background, socioeconomic status, and school climate further influences value formation, highlighting the need for holistic educational strategies. The study advocates for value-oriented pedagogies, socio-emotional learning, and comprehensive support services to foster critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and collaboration, thereby preparing students for academic success and responsible citizenship. Ultimately, the findings emphasize the transformative potential of universities not only as knowledge centers but as spaces for cultivating ethically conscious, socially engaged individuals ready to contribute to a just and equitable society.

The social dynamics and structure of society are structured in such a way that difference and uniqueness dominates here in the true sense of the word. Sociality and uniqueness are generally purely intertwined concepts. These meanings, whether they are part of a large civilization or separate local societies, are almost directly related to human nature and are conditioned by the geographical environment. In the background of the individual's social world, the role of what he has achieved up to his current state is, of course, important. The mechanism of social development of society is based on mutual and friendly relations of individuals with each other, normal stable behaviors, correct upbringing methods, etc. For this, it is necessary to have a healthy social environment, choose the correct upbringing method and style, apply the customs and traditions that have been ingrained in the blood memory of society for thousands of years, and apply stable behaviors. However, there is also the concept of deviance, which is outdated in all of our sayings, and the basis of this concept is the behavior that stems from the socio-psychological world of the individual, the level of consciousness, the relationship with the surrounding world, and the development mechanism of the world around him. Deviance is called a chain of behaviors observed in human individuals, each link of which is disproportionate to the existence of the correct upbringing method mentioned above, the set of social behaviors that society is accustomed to, and new social systems that are adopted or imposed on society from the outside, and are considered abnormal or alien to them by custom, and is rebellious. Deviant behaviors have been observed in all human societies throughout history. Deviance, which is more characteristic of the lifestyle of young people, manifests itself in the social sphere in various forms such as alcoholism and drug addiction, family problems, criminality, immorality, depression, suicide and other cases that we have not listed. The study of deviance is of great relevance in terms of studying the social environment of both Iran and Azerbaijan and taking preventive measures to solve the problem.