Normalizing cyberracism: a neutralization theory analysis
Stanislav Vysotsky|Adrienne L. McCarthy
AbstractWhite Supremacists use the Internet to discuss ideological arguments, which rationalize their beliefs and/or behavior by denying its implications, responsibility, or contextualize it in higher order responsibilities conform normal expectations. The rationalization exemplified arguments can be simultaneously normalizing and neutralizing via framing processes that serve legitimize deviant criminal behaviors. These act as tools not only maintain participation of current followers, but also persuade potential members who are pursuing curiosity about White Supremacist ideology. Discourse on web forum Stormfront was found contain six types argument frameworks: racial difference, cultural superiority, empiricism, verifiability, word choice, superiority. Each these categories analyzed for neutralization techniques under pre-established metaframes collective action frames, collectively fall ar...
Journal of crime & justice