Deviant behavior is seen as a socio-psychological phenomenon that occurs in the process of breakdown of the processes of socialization. The article presents the viewpoint of the formation of deviant behavior of students as a result of malfunction of the mechanisms of social and psychological adjustment. Considered communicative, emotional and volitional, cognitive, moral and ethical aspects of the adaptation of the person. Describes the personal characteristics that may serve as markers of social and psychological adjustment. It is shown that timely diagnosis and correction of certain personality characteristics conducive to the prevention of deviant behavior of college students. The necessity of an integrated approach to the choice of diagnostic method to determine the relationship functioning of adaptation mechanisms in normal and deviation from social norms.