The Techniques Of Neutralization

The Techniques Of NeutralizationIn 1957, Gresham Sykes and David Matza developed a surmisal that rationalizeed delinquent behavior through proficiencys of counteraction. Sykes and Matza developed five distinct proficiencys to help them explain their scheme. This literature review provides background information on the Techniques of Neutralization and looks at from each whizz unity specifically. Over time, several studies gull been done to better explain and test out these techniques. Also include are critiques of Sykes and Matzas Theory.OverviewThe Techniques of Neutralization were developed to explain juvenile delinquents and wherefore they connected offence (Moyer 2001). Its deliberated that they reject the values and goals of community and form goals and values of their own. Delinquents throw the values of creation renounceed to take the easy way out. Society believes in an individual taking steps to better themselves in non- flagitious ways to succeed. The crimi nal subcultural names this as a struggle and t closures to shy away (Moyer 2001). The criminal believes in low achievement and dropping out.The hold theories is the umbrella which to the highest degree believe these techniques should fall under, however, theorist believe that this was utilisationd to criticize Hirschis Social adherence Theory. Other theorists saw this as an extension to Hirschis theory. What Sykes and Matza intended to do was to illuminate what was meant by definitions favorable to law. Their initial plan was non to develop a theory of control (Moyer 2001). Using this as a building block, Matza subsequently developed other theory that we now know as ramble on Theory.Sykes and Matza outlined five different techniques. Each technique provided what theorists believe to be exc engrosss or responses to delinquent behavior. These techniques became important in lessening the movement of control on these individuals and an important part of the criminal behavior. demurrer of ResponsibilityThis technique allows an individual to deny any right to being mired in an encounter (Sykes and Matza 1957). Usually they are reacting to an outside source whether it be another person or a investuation that has affected them. They will a great deal say that their reaction was beyond their control. (Moyer 2001 Akers and Sellers 2004)Denial of responsibility can rattling be explained through other theories. The theories that formed from the Chicago School could use this and say that where an individual lives or comes from can help explain why he or she has resulted to deviant behavior. (Moyer 2001)Denial of InjuryAn individual in this situation will say that their action yielded no victim, therefore their crime was victimless (Sykes and Matza 1957). Their argument is that no one or nothing was harm in the act of their crime. As a society we view victimless crimes as things analogous prostitution and drug use. The government tends to constitute moral s instead of basing it on the feature that these acts can actually hurt people. Delinquents see this as an fortune to act out. These individuals may also play a part in other criminal activities such as tagging or vandalism and stealing. They come up that no one is harmed by these crimes, so it is alright to commit them.Denial of the VictimThis technique could be tied the denial of injury, yet its a bit different in the fact that individuals will bespeak that the victim had it coming (Sykes and Matza 1957). Usually this act is a result of retaliation against to the highest degree(prenominal)thing the victim did to egg on the offender. Hate crimes are an example crimes that can be explained by this technique. (Moyer 2001 Akers and Sellers 2004)Some theorists argue that deflower or sexual transgress can be employ to show denial of victim. On most college campuses, drinking is a huge problem that frequently results in rape or assault (Piacentini, Chatzidakis, and Banister 2 012). College fe staminates are seen as weaker individuals to prey on when they are intoxicated. The males in this situation take advantage of this. This criminal act could happen indoors the party scene or when the individual leaves. The male would argue that she was rummy and was asking for it. (Moyer 2001 Akers and Sellers 2004 Piacentini, Chatzidakis, and Banister 2012)Another example of this technique would be your average club or bar right. Most individuals who go into bars, go there to drink. Lets say a couple goes to a bar, they sit down and a man starts to hit of the female companion. Hes obviously drunk, but the boyfriend sees this guy as a threat and nicely asks him to stop. The drunk male begin to mouth off at the boyfriend. The boyfriend becomes het and punches the drunk male in the face causing an uproar at the bar that results in the cops being called. When the cops arrive, the boyfriend says that the drunk male had it coming, as he was the one who started the situ ation in the first place. However, this is most often the situation in any fight. (Piacentini, Chatzidakis, and Banister 2012) address to Higher LoyaltiesAppeal to high loyalty crimes usually occur when something big is at put on the line (Sykes and Matza 1957). This is a common technique utilize by the government. However, as outlying(prenominal) as delinquents are concerned, this is used to explain crimes committed while involved in a gang. Juveniles see the gang as their family. Their goal is to decease in, so they often say that they owed this to the gang to defend their reputation within it. (Moyer 2001 Akers and Sellers 2004)This technique could also be used to explain a thievery of some sort (Shigihara 2013). thither is a single mother of trey who works at in retail. unrivalled of her children suffers from severe allergies, but she doesnt bedevil enough money to afford the medication. Before this mother leaves work on a definite occasion she sneaks a bottle of medicin e into her purse. Consequently, this charr gets caught by the manager who has seen her in the act. When this woman is question, she states her situation and tells the manager that she had to do it for her child. She has then attempted to appeal to higher loyalties (Moyer 2001).Condemnation of CondemnersThis technique is one of the most complicated, but more cleaver. It allows the delinquent to shift the attention from themselves to the individual who is convicting them (Sykes and Matza 1957). They usually tend to revolve about of the acts or behaviors of others so that there is a shift in action and attention. (Moyer 2001 Akers and Sellers 2004)Condemnation of condemners can be used in court cases a lot. The offender could be allowed to shift focus on the wrongdoings of the police or any other individual who compete a part in their behavior. Racial profiling would make for an example. justness enforcement officials excite a target that they have their mind set on. Anyone who so slightly resembles that individual is usually targeted by officers. Maybe an individual is in the wrong place at the wrong time. If this individual is taken in, they could argue that the police officials were profiling him or there was no turn out that could or would link him to anything.Review of Literature and StudiesAccording to Costello, Sykes and Matza created that the notion of an oppositional subculture was unlikely because delinquents look to display guilt or shame (2000). They typically have some ties to what we know as conformist society. Sykes and Matza believe that these counteractions are extensions of legal defenses to crimes (Costello 2000). These techniques allow the delinquent to see them as valid, but they tend to be denied by the society around them.The studies and empirical research that has been done to study this theory was provided mixed results (Schafer and Knudten 1977). Most studies show that those who use neutralization techniques tend to have weak bon ds and are more likely to be deviant (Costello 2000). Agnews longitudinal analysis of violent behavior show that neutralization has more effect on violence among those who condemn the behavior, thus supporting Sykess and Matzas argument that states neutralization is a result of internalized constraints to behavior that require these neutralization techniques (Costello 2000).As furthermost as current research goes, there are several arguments. One is although there is research that show a relationship between neutralization and deviance, the relationship is usually weak (Costello 2000). Another argument is that an individual uses the techniques as a way to protect his or her self-esteem because of the ties they have to the society (Costello 2000). None of the evidence found for any of these presents clear and strong support.There was a study done that looked at men in a Tennessee prison. Most of these individuals came from poor background. They were all grouped into different catego ries based or the attachment to the society in which they came from. Several crimes were looked at and then each individual was asked if they had been involved in any of those particular crimes. At the end of the study, they found that each individual used at least one technique of neutralization to defend their act. (Copes 2003)CritiquesOne of the main arguments against this theory is the fact that it doesnt explain how society tolerates the use of the techniques (Moyer 2001). Sykes and Matza explained how to use the techniques, but they failed to explain whether certain individuals would be more accepting (Moyer 2001). There may be some members of a society or group that will be both more lenient or harsher as a result of the use of these techniques. However, we are unaware of these individuals because this theory has failed to mention it (Rankin 2011).The biggest criticism of this theory is that it is not a theory at all (Moyer 2001). Sykes and Matza said themselves that the res earch and evidence to support this theory was rare (Sykes and Matza 1957). They actually admitted to the fact that this was more of an add-on to a larger more general theory. This is how Matzas Drift Theory came about (Akers and Sellers 2004).The actual goal of this research was to explain how individuals who commit crimes still see themselves as law-abiding citizens (Sykes and Matza 1957). As we now look at the techniques as a whole, theorists believe that this is best categorized not as a theory but as steps to creating a control theory (Moyer 2001).ConclusionThe techniques of neutralization has been turned into what is believed to be building blocks to a greater theory. They have taken a look at the ways that criminals, delinquents especially, explain or rationalize their behavior. Even in todays world, we see evidence of these techniques being used. Sykes and Matza have developed these techniques that will not only be used by criminals, but also by those who may represent these criminals as justifications for committing these crimes.