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How does neutralization theory explain why some people justify delinquent behavior?
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criminology
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Neutralization theory, advanced by criminologists David Cressey, Gresham Sykes, and David Matza, explains that individuals who commit delinquent acts generally subscribe to the moral values of mainstream society.1
Rather than rejecting these societal norms, the delinquent justifies their behavior through a process of "neutralization." In this process, the individual redefines their actions to make them appear morally acceptable in specific situations. By employing these justifications, the person is able to engage in delinquent conduct while still maintaining a self-image as a person who adheres to conventional morality.1