Syke And Matza's Neutralization Theory

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Syke and Matza’s neutralization theory was developed as a way to explain how criminal offenders get into the situations that they do, weather its breaking a rule or blaming it on someone else. “Crime happens because youths learn conventional norms and also techniques of neutralization wherein those norms could be temporarily suspended and their control effect neutralized” (Copes 2003). For example, if a person gets in a car accident and say, “Well no one is injured” this is denial of injury or “I didn’t mean to I was drunk” which is denial of responsibilities. This is neutralization to defend yourself. This theory was directed to juvenile delinquency, know the difference between law-abiding and law breaking behavior. They also developed five