Final answer:
The differential association-reinforcement theory was developed by sociologist Edwin Sutherland and later included behavioral psychology aspects such as reinforcement proposed by B.F. Skinner and observational learning from Albert Bandura.
Step-by-step explanation:
The differential association-reinforcement theory was developed by the sociologist Edwin Sutherland, who proposed that deviant behavior is learned through social interactions with others. This theory suggests that people learn values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behavior through their associations with criminal peers. The theory evolves from Sutherland's work on differential association to later incorporate ideas from behavioral psychology about reinforcement. Notably, the contributions of B.F. Skinner, with his emphasis on operant conditioning and reinforcement, and Albert Bandura, with his social-cognitive theory highlighting the role of observational learning and cognition in behavior, complement the understanding of how behaviors and personality are developed and changed over time.
According to Sutherland's theory, a person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to violation of law over definitions unfavorable to the violation of law. This could occur, for example, if a young person is surrounded by friends who engage in and reinforce deviant behavior. Sutherland's proposition is grounded in social learning where behavior is shaped by social environment and subjective perceptions, tied into the larger framework of behavioral psychology.