Which of the following is a method whereby individuals might displace blame in criminal behavior?

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Displacing blame in criminal behavior often involves shifting responsibility away from oneself to a broader context or group. This is effectively captured in the concept of collective responsibility, where individuals justify their actions by asserting that they are part of a larger group that shares the blame. This method can mitigate feelings of personal guilt or accountability by framing the behavior within a communal context, suggesting that the actions of one should not be viewed in isolation or that they are influenced by group norms or pressures.

In contrast, options such as condemnation of the criminal focus on the criticism of the individual, which does not provide a mechanism for blame displacement. Describing actions as socially acceptable can be an attempt to normalize behavior but does not necessarily involve a displacement of blame as it does not acknowledge wrongdoing. Offering further justification can serve to rationalize behavior, yet it still often holds the individual accountable rather than diffusing the blame to a collective. Thus, the appeal to collective responsibility serves as a more direct means of displacing blame by attributing it to a group dynamic rather than individual choice.

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