Exam 27: The Devil Made Me Do It: Use of Neutralizations

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Cromwell and Thurman found that shoplifters often use various neutralizations to justify their crimes. Six of the nine neutralizations they identified are:

1. Denial of responsibility: Shoplifters may claim that they were not in control of their actions, perhaps blaming external factors such as peer pressure or financial need.

2. Denial of injury: Some shoplifters may argue that their actions did not cause harm to anyone, especially if they believe that the store can afford the loss.

3. Condemnation of the condemners: This neutralization involves shoplifters shifting the blame onto the store or its employees, claiming that they were mistreated or unfairly targeted.

4. Appeal to higher loyalties: Shoplifters may justify their actions by claiming that they were stealing for a greater cause, such as providing for their family or supporting a charity.

5. Denial of victim: Some shoplifters may argue that the store is not a true victim, especially if they believe that the store overcharges for its products or engages in unethical business practices.

6. Metaphor of the ledger: This neutralization involves shoplifters rationalizing their actions by believing that they are simply balancing out perceived injustices, such as feeling entitled to take something for free after receiving poor customer service.

These neutralizations are likely used in everyday life as well, albeit in different contexts. For example, people may use denial of responsibility to justify procrastination or blame external factors for their own mistakes. Similarly, denial of injury and condemnation of the condemners may be used in arguments or conflicts to downplay the impact of one's actions and shift blame onto others. Overall, these neutralizations can be seen as common rationalizations used to justify unethical behavior in various situations.