International Criminology: Delinquency and Neutralization Theory

International Criminology
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Question Two
Gresham Sykes and David Matza studied delinquency and proposed the neutralization theory, also known as drift theory. Delinquency refers to actions that do not conform to the moral or legal standards of the community committed by a juvenile. These actions would otherwise be termed criminal if performed by an adult. According to this theory, delinquents try to neutralize their criminal acts by using justifications to support their behavior (Sykes & Matza, 1957). The justifications commonly used include blaming others, insisting that victims deserved the outcomes, suggesting that the victims experienced no harm, and stating that others have committed worse crimes.
In normal circumstances, a person contemplating committing a crime would feel ashamed or guilty about it, and this moral sense prevents people from going ahead to engage or participate in delinquent acts. Therefore, for delinquents to participate in immoral acts and then switch back to conventionally acceptable behavior, they apply neutralization techniques. These techniques help to nullify their deviant behavior and offset the guilt. Five neutralization techniques listed by Matza and Sykes include denial of responsibility, denial of injury, denial of victims, condemnation of condemners, and appeal to higher loyalties. Continuous use of these techniques inhibits a person's morality over time, leading them to commit immoral acts without feeling guilty at all.
 In genocide, we can conceptualize neutralization theory as both before and after committing atrocities related to genocide. For instance, to steal, rape, murder, or engage in other immoralities associated with genocides, the perpetrator must be able to block the moral sense that would otherwise prevent them from delinquency. To justify their actions afterward, they may utilize the neutralization theory by discrediting their involvement in the crimes they have been accused of or even denying being at or near the crime scene. They may also apply the technique of denial of injury by refuting the claim of causing harm to others, for instance, by mutilating people. The defendant may also apply the denial technique of the victim by turning the statement around in his defense. In this case, they may even accuse the plaintiff of oppressing them, therefore prompting the defendant to punish them in return. In addition to the five neutralization techniques, two extensions important to studying genocidal crimes include metaphor of the ledger (Klockars, 1974) and defense of necessity. The metaphor of the ledger refers to whether an individual has an account of many good things that they have done before and has gained an excess of goodwill that can allow them to do some wrong actions. Defense of necessity refers to a situation that compels an excellent person to commit a criminal act when they are at immediate risk of physical harm. 
Some of the cases where we can apply the neutralization theory include the Nazi Holocaust, whereby The German Nazi regime executed European Jews and the intellectually disabled and homosexuals between 1933 and 1945. Under the rule of Adolf Hitler, the Nazi leader, Germany killed approximately six million Jews and five million others targeted for political, ideological, and racial reasons. More than one million of those who died were children. For several years, Germany denied their actions as a way of covering up (under the denial of responsibility). Many years later, German youths tried to smooth the conflict by applying the neutralization technique. Although they were born long after World War 11, German history made them feel responsible for the deeds committed during the Nazi regime. The Germans later apologized to the Jews for the persecutions and paid billions to Israel and Jewish survivors as compensation.
Other theories of criminology that can apply to genocide include control theory, learning theory, and labeling theory. Control theories of crime argue that a person is less likely to commit a crime when solid social ties exist such as family, school, church, community, or workplace. Social institutions are likely to highlight the consequences of criminal acts, therefore preventing people associated with those institutions from engaging in crime. On the other hand, social learning theory states that a person is likely to be influenced into delinquency by associating with people who engage in crime. Such people may view crime as something desirable, and having role models who are criminals may only increase the chances of delinquency. Labeling theory states that people behave in ways that reflect how society views them. For instance, labeling someone as a criminal may lead others to view and treat the victim negatively, causing them to act out. We can apply the theory of neutralization to other forms of crime apart from genocide. For instance, a drug dealer caught supplying drugs would argue that the buyer is a willing participant who was not forced into buying the drugs. The teenager selling drugs would state that although it was an illegal act, no one was harmed in the process.
Question Three
The sub-cultural theory states that certain groups in society have values that are conducive to violence and crime. Young people in society organize themselves into groups called sub-cultures where criminal activities dominate. Subcultures are defined as sub-groups of the society with different attitudes and cultures from the rest of the community members. These groups more often than not contradict what is deemed moral by the significant society. A delinquent subculture is one in which delinquency has become normalized. Some delinquent adolescents outgrow the behavior while others graduate into mor...