the devil made me do it: use of neutralizations by shoplifters

Cromwell, Paul; Thurman, Quint C.

doi:10.1080/713840271

Cited by 196 publications

(190 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…While some authors have shown how individuals tend to use more than one neutralization technique to dilute the guilt associated with wrongful behavior (Chatzidakis et al 2004;Cromwell and Thurman 2003), this trend does not appear to have been observed in an organizational context. The neutralization techniques observed in this study are not used in an isolated way but rather in combination.…”

Section: Contributionsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Strategies for Climate Change and Impression Management: A Case Study Among Canada’s Large Industrial Emitters

2014

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This paper explores the justifications and impression management strategies that industrial companies use to rationalize their impacts on climate change. These strategies influence the perceptions of stakeholders through the use of techniques of neutralization intended to legitimize the impacts of corporate operations in the area of climate change. Based on a qualitative and inductive approach, 10 case studies were conducted of large Canadian industrial emitters. Interviews were conducted with managers and environmental specialists (n = 32). Public documentation was also collected when available. This study identifies six main neutralization techniques that industrial emitters use to rationalize their impacts: self-proclaimed excellence, promotion of a systemic view, denial and minimization, denouncing unfair treatment and deceptive appearances, economic and technological blackmail, and blaming others. The paper develops a better understanding of corporate arguments and strategies aimed at influencing the perceptions of stakeholders, including policymakers. The study also contributes to the literature on impression management by shedding light on new strategies and techniques of neutralization used by managers to shape the perceptions of stakeholders on socially sensitive issues.

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Section: Contributionsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Strategies for Climate Change and Impression Management: A Case Study Among Canada’s Large Industrial Emitters

2014

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“…What all previously discussed studies have in common is the acceptance and appreciation of cognitive deviance neutralizations as a successful rationalization mechanism (Cromwell and Thurman 2003;Fritsche 2005). Whenever human beings encounter inconsistencies between their beliefs or stated intentions and their actual behavior, this set of cognitive response modes can provide valuable insights (Hazani 1991).…”

Section: Techniques Of Neutralizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research addressing the question of whether justifications are used rather pre or post-behavior has specifically been called for by several authors (Cromwell & Thurman 2003;Maruna & Copes 2005).…”

Section: Techniques Of Neutralizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Techniques of Neutralization Legitimize Norm- and Attitude-Inconsistent Consumer Behavior

Gruber¹,

Schlegelmilch²

2013

J Bus Ethics

112

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Abstract:In accordance with societal norms and values, consumers readily indicate their positive attitudes towards sustainability. However, they hardly take sustainability into account when engaging in exchange relationships with companies. To shed light on this paradox, this paper investigates whether defense mechanisms and the more specific concept of neutralization techniques can explain the discrepancy between societal norms and actual behavior. A multimethod qualitative research design provides rich insights into consumers' underlying cognitive processes and how they make sense of their attitude-behavior divergences. Drawing on the Ways Model of account-taking, which is advanced to a Cycle Model, the findings illustrate how neutralization strategies are used to legitimize inconsistencies between normconforming attitudes and actual behavior. Furthermore, the paper discusses how the repetitive reinforcement of neutralizing patterns and feedback loops between individuals and society are linked to the rise of anomic consumer behavior.

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“…For example, employees who commit fraudulent financial statements may believe that their actions are in the best interest of the firms. Another example occurs when certain employees justify they have no choice but to engage in criminal acts (Cromwell & Thurman, 2003). According to Tsang (2002), rationalization happens when the ability of a person causes him or her to reinterpret his or her deprived and wicked actions as morally acceptable.…”

Section: Rationalization and Occurrence Of Employee Fraudmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating ethical values into fraud triangle theory in assessing employee fraud: Evidence from the Malaysian banking industry

Said¹,

Alam²,

Ramli³

et al. 2017

Journal of International Studies

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Abstract. This study attempts to integrate ethical values into the fraud triangle theory in the context of Malaysian banking industry. Primary data were collected through the survey of 108 questionnaires administered to the employees of the top three largest banks in Malaysia. The findings revealed that ethical values were negatively related to employee fraud, and two elements of fraud triangle theory, namely, opportunity and rationalization, were positively related to employee fraud. This implies that high ethical value is crucial to mitigate employee fraud. To minimize employee fraud, the banking industry should reduce opportunities and employee negative rationalization through strong internal control. This study contributes to literature on the occurrences of employee fraud, which is not widely discussed, especially in the context of the banking industry in developing countries.

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the devil made me do it: use of neutralizations by shoplifters

Cited by 196 publications

References 15 publications

Strategies for Climate Change and Impression Management: A Case Study Among Canada’s Large Industrial Emitters

Strategies for Climate Change and Impression Management: A Case Study Among Canada’s Large Industrial Emitters

How Techniques of Neutralization Legitimize Norm- and Attitude-Inconsistent Consumer Behavior

Integrating ethical values into fraud triangle theory in assessing employee fraud: Evidence from the Malaysian banking industry

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