Neutralization Theory

1. Neutralization Theory is a theory in criminology that attempts to explain why persons can seem to be following social norms most of the time but at times deviate. This helps explain why crime will exist within groups that basicly believe in the social norms.
   • This idea of being able to go between two sets of conflicting norms without internal conflict is known as drift.

2. According to the theory people must learn to neutralize thier fundemental beliefs in order to commit the crime.They learn techniques of neutralization to prevent any internal conflicts in thier contradictory behavior. These techniques are as follows:
   • Denial of responsibility
   • Denial of injury
   • Denial of the victim
   • Condemnation of the condemer
   • Appeal to higher loyalies

3. In this way the person can rationalize that thier criminal behavior had no negative consequence to the victim and so thier is no quilt.