David Sykes and Gresham Matza developed a theory of juvenile delinquency in the 1960s in which they described techniques that individuals use to rationalize criminal behavior and "neutralize" sound moral reasoning.
One could argue that Zerby-Berg Family is basically a juvenile gang culture, and that the consciences of otherwise good people drawn into this culture were neutralized by its extremely powerful and deceptive social constructions.
I'm struck by how Sykes & Matza's "techniques of neutralization" have been widely used by Family members for decades and continue to be used.
1. Denial of responsibility: The intent of my behavior was good and loving; the injury caused was accidental, and the result of a few immature, misguided extremists who misinterpreted the spirit of a teaching for the letter of the law. Also, "I was drunk and didn't know what I was doing."
2. Denial of injury: Nobody was clearly hurt, or maybe a few were hurt, but the majority were not. Also, "You're young, you'll get over it." Or, "It never happened--You're lying." Or, "It's in the past--Forget it."
3. Denial of the victim: The act was not wrong in and of itself (e.g., adult sexual intercourse with a minor is an act of love, not exploitation); Or, "She wanted it, and she asked for it."
4. Condemnation of the condemners: Shift focus to those who are condemning the deviant behavior--Our detractors are acting out of spite and bitterness. They are demon oppressed (blood-sucking vandari)--they are systemite hypocrites.
5. Appeal to higher loyalties: God's law takes precedence over laws of human decency. Those who have not forsaken all (e.g., abandoned their obligations) for the sake of The Family are not worthy.