After a woman's teenage son engages in deviant behavior,she says the reason for her son's behavior is that "he fell in with a bad crowd." Which symbolic interactionist theory of deviance does this explanation MOST closely resemble?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mother's explanation suggests that her son's deviant behavior was learned through his association with a group of peers who behave in similar ways. This aligns with the differential association theory, which argues that deviant behavior is learned through interactions with others who hold deviant attitudes and beliefs.

After a Woman's Teenage Son Engages in Deviant Behavior,she Says