Asociologist studying the meaning of bicycle theft finds that the young men in her neighborhood who steal bicycles do so as a way or proving that they are more clever than the owners of expensive bicycles, since they can get away with rifling through unlocked or poorly secured garages, porches, and basements unnoticed. in a way, stealing these pieces of sports equipment is a sport in itself for the thieves. this researcher's focus on how those who steal bicycles think of their actions is an example ofa. symbolic interactionism. b. social control. c. functionalist theory. d. means-ends theory of deviance.

a) symbolic interactionism

Explanation:

Symbolic interactionism aims to understand the subjective meaning that people associate with behavior, objects and events. This theory has its roots in the belief that people act according to what they believe in and not what is objectively true.

Here, the researcher thinks that the thieves do this because they think that they are doing this as a sport. He also believes that the thieves are showing their worth by stealing bikes from people who are not smart. The thieves think that they deserve the bicycles more. The thoughts of the theives are not objectively true.

Hence, their actions is an example of symbolic interactionism.