During a riot the police manage to nab one of the young men looting a small grocery store. As he is taken away he says, "I wasn't doing anything different than a hundred other people." Which neutralization technique is he probably using?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The young man is using the neutralization technique of "the claim that everybody else is doing it," which is a way of justifying his actions by suggesting that his behavior is normal or widespread among others, thereby attempting to diminish his personal responsibility.

During a Riot the Police Manage to Nab One of the Young