SOCIOLOGY 170

Lecture Outline DAVID MATZA

The following outline is intended to guide lecture on theories of
crime and delinquency.

Matza's primary contribution to delinquency---importance of this
view is that it suggests that delinquency is something into which
offenders "DRIFT" into and out of, thus challenging the utility of a
concept of "delinquency" that can be applied to ANY act or
individual, in that Delinquency may be a PHASE rather than a LIFE
STYLE.

NEUTRALIZATION THEORY:  Associated with Matza and Sykes, this is
useful in illustrating that contrary to some views (e.g., Miller,
Cohen) delinquents may not by "IMMORAL' or hae different values than
the rest of us bucause theytend to construct accounts to neturalize
their acts and thus make them seem not so deviant.

     1) denial of victim
     2) denial of crime
     3) blaming the victim
     4) appeal to higher authority
     5) blaming the blamers

SUBTERRANEAN VALUES:  Contrary to some theorists we have read, Matza
is suggesting that "delinquent values" are an expression of the same
values of "Middle class" adolescents, but simply expressed in a
different way.
 

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