Which of the following is NOT a technique of neutralization as per the theory of crime?

The correct answer is based on the understanding of Sykes and Matza's techniques of neutralization, which are strategies that individuals use to justify or rationalize their deviant behavior and alleviate feelings of guilt. Techniques of neutralization include ways to excuse or legitimize anti-social actions, allowing individuals to maintain a self-image that is consistent with societal norms.

Denial of responsibility suggests that the individual feels they are not accountable for their actions, as external factors influenced their behavior. Condemnation of the criminal involves shifting focus from oneself to the actions of others, thus justifying one's own behavior by labeling others as worse. Appeal to higher loyalties implies that the individual believes their actions are justified based on loyalty to a group or belief that supersedes societal norms. Each of these techniques serves to shield the individual from the emotional weight of their actions.

Justification of actions is not formally recognized as a distinct technique of neutralization in the same vein as the others. While it may appear related, it lacks the specific framing provided by the recognized techniques that stress denial and shifting responsibility. A justification simply rationalizes behavior without the structured disassociation or redirection emphasized in the other techniques. Therefore, it does not align with the established framework of neutralization strategies that encaps