sociology: techniques of neutralization

Denial of Responsibility

Operational Definition

“… disapproval of self or others is sharply reduced in effectiveness as a restraining influence… [by] defin[ing]… self… as lacking responsibility for… deviant actions…” (p. 667; MDL refactoring applied).

Basic Social Process

“… link between… [behavioral attribution palace [[i.e., self-view [[[e.g., self-reference effect]]] ]]… and acts… broken…” (p. 668; MDL refactoring applied)

Effect

“… By learning to view himself as more acted upon than acting, the delinquent prepares the way for deviance from the dominant normative system without the necessity of a frontal assault on the norms themselves” (p. 667).

Denial of Injury

Operational Definition

“… frequently, and in a hazy fashion, feels that… behavior does not really cause any great harm despite the fact that it runs counter to the law.” (pp. 667-668)

Basic Social Process

“… link between acts and… consequences… broken” (p. 668)

Effect

“… society sometimes agrees… reaffirm[ing]… qualif[ication] of norms… [as] an extension of common practice rather than a gesture of complete opposition.” (p. 668; MDL refactoring applied)

The Denial of the Victim

Operational Definition

“… insistence that the injury is not wrong… not really an injury… form of rightful retaliation or punishment…” (p. 668)

Basic Social Process

“… [deviant behavior] move[s] into the position of an aveng[ing behavior] and the victim [behavior] is transformed into a wrong-do[ing].” (p. 668; MDL refactoring applied)

Effect

“… diminished awareness [i.e., acceptance] of victim…” (p. 668; MDL refactoring applied]

Condemnation of Condemners

Operational Definition

“… rejection of rejectors…” (as cited in Sykes & Matza, 1957, p. 668; McCorkle & Korn, 1954)

Basic Social Process

“… [deviant behavior] shifts the focus of attention from [deviant behaviors] to the motives and behaviors… disapprov[ing] of… [deviant behaviors]… [i.e.,] violations…” (p. 668; MDL refactoring applied)

Effect

“… change[s] the subject of… dialogue between… devian[t behaviors] and the reactions [to deviant behaviors]; and by attacking [reaction vessels], the wrongfulness of [deviant behaviors] is more easily repressed or lost to view [i.e., obfuscated]” (p. 668, MDL refactoring applied)

Appeal to Higher Loyalties

Operational Definition

“… sacrificing the demands of the [greater distribution of behaviors] for the demands of the [lesser distribution of behaviors] to which [deviant behavior] is attributed.” (p. 669; MDL refactoring applied)

Basic Social Process

“… see[s] the fact that [behavior] of the [lesser distribution of behaviors] as a justification for violations of society’s norms, but it is a matter of degree rather than of kind.” (p. 669; MDL refactoring applied)

Effect

“… ‘definitions of the situation’ represent tangential or glancing blows at the dominant normative system rather than the creation of an opposing ideology; and… are extensions of patterns of thought prevalent in society rather than created de novo.” (p. 669; MDL refactoring applied)