NEUTRALIZATION AND DELINQUENCY AMONG TEENAGERS

A review of the literature dealing with Sykes and Matza's theory of de linquency suggests that there is a need for a measure of their concept of neutralization that is both psychometrically sound and sensitive t o the limited verbal skills of many delinquents. A neutralization scal e was accordingly developed; evidence is offered to suggest that it is both reliable, in terms of internal consistency, and valid, in terms of (a) its relationship with other measures of a propensity toward del inquency, (b) its ability to differentiate between delinquents and non delinquents, and (c) its ability to predict subsequent delinquency amo ng incarcerated young offenders (both while institutionalized and duri ng a 1-year postdischarge follow-up).