ABSTRACT
Many scholars have developed numerous theories to explain how people overcome the moral hurdles of crime, perhaps none have been as well received as Sykes and Matza's (1957) neutralization theory. According to the theory, norm-violators seek to free themselves of the guilt and potential negative self-image associated with their actions by pre-emptively using linguistic devices (that is, techniques of neutralization) that nullify the corresponding guilt. The use of such neutralization techniques is what allows offenders to start and maintain criminal and deviant careers. In their original formulation of the theory, Sykes and Matza state that techniques of neutralization must precede deviant behaviour. Recently, some scholars have sought to determine the stability of neutralizing beliefs. Using trajectory analysis, this research suggests that adolescents vary in their acceptance of neutralizations and that these groups are relatively stable, at least throughout adolescence.
