Techniques of neutralization
Encyclopedia
Techniques of neutralization ("neutralisation" in Commonwealth countries) are a theoretical series of methods by which those who commit illegitimate acts temporarily neutralize certain values within themselves which would normally prohibit them from carrying out such acts, such as morality, obligation to abide by the law, and so on. In simpler terms, it is a psychological method for people to turn off 'inner protests' when they do, or are about to do something perceived as wrong. (This apparently would suppose that what makes up the proper "right and wrong" concept of duality is an objective standard. Therefore the idea is somewhat of a loose concept)
(b. 1922) during their work on Edwin Sutherland
’s Differential Association
in the 1950's. While Matza and Sykes were at the time working on juvenile delinquency
, they theorised that the same techniques could be found throughout society and published their ideas in Delinquency and Drift 1964.
Matza and Sykes' theory states that people are always aware of their moral obligation to abide by the law, and that they have the same moral obligation within themselves to avoid illegitimate acts. Thus, they reasoned, when a person did commit illegitimate acts, they must employ some sort of mechanism to silence the urge to follow these moral obligations.
This theory rejects other theories which suggested that groups containing delinquents have set up their own permanent moral code which completely replaces moral obligations. Thus, Matza and Sykes were able to explain how offenders 'drift' from illegitimate to legitimate lifestyles repeatedly, as they retain the moral code rather than wipe it clean to be replaced by a more illegitimate one as previous theories suggested.
These theories were brought from positivistic criminology which looked at epistemological perspectives of delinquency.
From these, Matza and Sykes created the following methods by which, they believed, delinquents justified their illegitimate actions:
These five methods of neutralization generally manifest themselves in the form of arguments such as:
The Neutralization Theory introduced by Sykes and Matza in 1957, facing the then prevailing criminological wisdom that offenders engage in crime because they adhere to an oppositional subcultural rule set that values law breaking and violence, rejected this perspective. Subsequent research revealed that the original formulation of the Sykes and Matza's theory explains only the behavior of "conventionally attached individuals" not those of "nonconventionally oriented individuals" such as "criminally embedded street offenders". Professor Volkan Topalli , at the Georgia State University
, in his article The Seductive Nature of Autotelic Crime: How Neutralization Theory Serves as a Boundary Condition for Understanding Hardcore Street Offending, explains that for those groups "guilt is not an issue at all because their crimes are not only considered acceptable, but attractive and desirable".
The theory
The idea of such techniques was first postulated by David Matza (b.May 1, 1930) and Gresham SykesGresham Sykes
Gresham M'Cready Sykes was an American sociologist and criminologist. He earned a Bachelor of Arts at Princeton University and a Ph. D. at Northwestern University. He taught at Princeton, Dartmouth, and Northwestern prior to becoming sociology professor at the University of Virginia...
(b. 1922) during their work on Edwin Sutherland
Edwin Sutherland
Edwin H. Sutherland was an American sociologist. He is considered as one of the most influential criminologists of the twentieth century...
’s Differential Association
Differential association
In criminology, Differential Association is a theory developed by Edwin Sutherland proposing that through interaction with others, individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behavior....
in the 1950's. While Matza and Sykes were at the time working on juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency is participation in illegal behavior by minors who fall under a statutory age limit. Most legal systems prescribe specific procedures for dealing with juveniles, such as juvenile detention centers. There are a multitude of different theories on the causes of crime, most if not...
, they theorised that the same techniques could be found throughout society and published their ideas in Delinquency and Drift 1964.
Matza and Sykes' theory states that people are always aware of their moral obligation to abide by the law, and that they have the same moral obligation within themselves to avoid illegitimate acts. Thus, they reasoned, when a person did commit illegitimate acts, they must employ some sort of mechanism to silence the urge to follow these moral obligations.
This theory rejects other theories which suggested that groups containing delinquents have set up their own permanent moral code which completely replaces moral obligations. Thus, Matza and Sykes were able to explain how offenders 'drift' from illegitimate to legitimate lifestyles repeatedly, as they retain the moral code rather than wipe it clean to be replaced by a more illegitimate one as previous theories suggested.
The techniques
The theory was built up upon four observations:- Delinquents express guilt over their illegal acts.
- Delinquents frequently respect and admire honest, law-abiding individuals.
- A line is drawn between those whom they can victimise and those they cannot.
- Delinquents are not immune to the demands of conformity.
These theories were brought from positivistic criminology which looked at epistemological perspectives of delinquency.
From these, Matza and Sykes created the following methods by which, they believed, delinquents justified their illegitimate actions:
- Denial of responsibility. The offender will propose that they were victims of circumstance or were forced into situations beyond their control.
- Denial of injury. The offender insists that their actions did not cause any harm or damage.
- Denial of the victim. The offender believes that the victim deserved whatever action the offender committed.
- Condemnation of the condemners. The offenders maintain that those who condemn their offense are doing so purely out of spite, or are shifting the blame off of themselves unfairly.
- Appeal to higher loyalties. The offender suggests that his or her offence was for the greater good, with long term consequences that would justify their actions, such as protection of a friend.
- Disbursement of blame. can occur in a group or co-accused situation where an offender may deny the degree to which they were involved (passing the blame)
- Dehumanization of victim. can occur when offender place the victim in a subhuman category e.g. all men are pigs.
- Misrepresentation of consequences. where an offender tends to psychologically minimize the injurious consequences, and focus only on the rewards.
These five methods of neutralization generally manifest themselves in the form of arguments such as:
- "It wasn't my fault"
- "It wasn't a big deal, they could afford the loss"
- "they had it coming"
- "You were just as bad in your day"
- "My friends needed me, what was I going to do?"
Acceptance
Further research in the theory has produced inconclusive results. Offenders have been found both with a solid belief in their moral obligations, and without. Travis Hirschi, a social bond theorist, also raised the question as to whether the offender develops these techniques to neutralise their qualms regarding offending before or after they actually commit the offence.The Neutralization Theory introduced by Sykes and Matza in 1957, facing the then prevailing criminological wisdom that offenders engage in crime because they adhere to an oppositional subcultural rule set that values law breaking and violence, rejected this perspective. Subsequent research revealed that the original formulation of the Sykes and Matza's theory explains only the behavior of "conventionally attached individuals" not those of "nonconventionally oriented individuals" such as "criminally embedded street offenders". Professor Volkan Topalli , at the Georgia State University
Georgia State University
Georgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
, in his article The Seductive Nature of Autotelic Crime: How Neutralization Theory Serves as a Boundary Condition for Understanding Hardcore Street Offending, explains that for those groups "guilt is not an issue at all because their crimes are not only considered acceptable, but attractive and desirable".
See also
- CriminologyCriminologyCriminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society...
- Sociology of deviance
- EthnomethodologyEthnomethodologyEthnomethodology is an ethnographic approach to sociological inquiry introduced by the American sociologist Harold Garfinkel . Ethnomethodology's research interest is the study of the everyday methods people use for the production of social order...
- Social orderSocial orderSocial order is a concept used in sociology, history and other social sciences. It refers to a set of linked social structures, social institutions and social practices which conserve, maintain and enforce "normal" ways of relating and behaving....
- Social controlSocial controlSocial control refers generally to societal and political mechanisms or processes that regulate individual and group behavior, leading to conformity and compliance to the rules of a given society, state, or social group. Many mechanisms of social control are cross-cultural, if only in the control...