When Anthony worked as a prison counselor he would often ask property offenders why they committed the crime. The overwhelming response was, "I had to feed my family." How would Sykes and Matza classify this response?
A) denial of responsibility
B) appeal to higher loyalties
C) condemnation of the condemners
D) denial of injury

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sykes and Matza's techniques of neutralization include "appeal to higher loyalties," which refers to the idea that the offender may justify their criminal behavior by claiming they were compelled to act out of loyalty to a higher cause or a duty to provide for family.

When Anthony Worked as a Prison Counselor He Would Often