Final answer:
Differential association theory, formulated by Edwin Sutherland, posits that individuals learn deviant behavior through social interactions, especially with those who model and provide opportunities for such behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The basic idea behind differential association theory, as proposed by the sociologist Edwin Sutherland in the early 1900s, is that deviant behavior is learned through social interactions with others. Sutherland emphasized that this learning comes from those close to us, who provide models of and opportunities for deviance. If an individual is exposed to more 'definitions' that view deviant behavior as favorable than those that oppose it, the individual is more likely to engage in deviant acts themselves. The theory suggests that deviance is less a result of personal choice and more due to socialization processes within close-knit groups.
For instance, a young person who frequently interacts with friends that are sexually active is likely to adopt similar behaviors. Exposure to certain behaviors, and the justification thereof by peers, integrates deviant activities into the cognitive understanding of what is acceptable within one's social circle.