Sykes and Matza assert that these justifications are rationalizations that protect delinquents from self-blame and the blame of others after they have committed a delinquent act. But they also suggest that these rationalizations could precede criminal acts. They went on to divide these justifications of deviant behavior, which they called techniques of neutralization, into five major types:
1. The denial of responsibility: The delinquent claims his actions were accidental or that some other person or situation caused him to act that way;
2. The denial of injury: The offender believes his behavior didn’t really hurt anyone or that it was just a joke or a prank;
3. The denial of the victim: The delinquent views his behavior as being justified
1. The denial of responsibility: The delinquent claims his actions were accidental or that some other person or situation caused him to act that way;
2. The denial of injury: The offender believes his behavior didn’t really hurt anyone or that it was just a joke or a prank;
3. The denial of the victim: The delinquent views his behavior as being justified