NCJ Number
20067
Journal
Revue internationale de criminologie et de police technique Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL-JUNE 1973) Pages: 173-188
Date Published
1973
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE PRESENTS THE THEORY THAT THE COMMISSION OF ANY CRIME DEPENDS NOT ON A PERSON'S PREDISPOSITION TOWARD ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES, BUT ON HIS ABILITY TO RATIONALIZE THE CRIME AND/OR JUSTIFY IT TO HIMSELF.
Abstract
IT IS HYPOTHESIZED THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CRIMINALS AND NON-CRIMINALS IS THEIR CAPACITY TO RATIONALIZE AND/OR JUSTIFY CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND THAT THIS CAPACITY IS DEPENDENT ON THE CHARACTER AND ACTIONS OF THE VICTIM, THE JUSTIFIABILITY OF THE CRIMINAL ACT, AND THE INDIVIDUAL'S FEELING THAT HE HIMSELF HAS BEEN THE TARGET OF SOME INJUSTICE. EXAMINED ARE THE DYNAMICS OF THE PRE-CRIMINAL SITUATION AND THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE PROSPECTIVE OFFENDER, THE PROSPECTIVE VICTIM, AND THE ILLEGAL ACT ARE ANALYZED IN RELATION TO HOW THEY AFFECT THE CRIMINAL'S NEED FOR AND EXTENT OF SELF-JUSTIFICATION. VARIOUS TYPES OF RATIONALIZATION AND NEUTRALIZATION ARE CONSIDERED IN RELATION TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF VICTIMS (IMPERSONAL OR NON-SPECIFIED OR VICTIMS WHO CONSENT TO OR PROVOKE THE CRIME) AND TO THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF OFFENDERS (STREET GANGS, PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS) WHO MAKE USE OF THEM. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. --IN FRENCH