Final Answer:
People often employ techniques of neutralization to rationalize their norm-violations and uphold their social status and identity as normal individuals.
Step-by-step explanation:
When individuals find themselves violating societal norms, they often resort to techniques of neutralization. These are psychological mechanisms that allow them to justify their actions without necessarily rejecting societal norms entirely or seeking legal justification.
Through techniques like denial of responsibility claiming the action was beyond their control or denial of injury (asserting that no real harm was caused), individuals mitigate the guilt or shame associated with their actions.
Furthermore, engaging in techniques of neutralization allows individuals to maintain their self-image as "normal" members of society. By mentally neutralizing their norm-violating behaviors, they can continue to see themselves as law-abiding citizens despite occasional deviations.
This psychological strategy helps in preserving their social status and identity, preventing the stigma or consequences that might accompany being labeled as deviant.
By employing these techniques, individuals navigate the tension between their actions and societal norms, enabling them to rationalize their behavior and maintain a sense of normalcy within their social circles.
This mechanism becomes a way to balance between adhering to societal expectations and occasionally diverging from them without fundamentally rejecting or challenging the norms outright.