Techniques of Neutralization and Cheating in a National Pool League
Dr. Timothy O’Boyle

Abstract
This paper explores “Techniques of Neutralization (Sykes and Matza, 1957)” and cheating in anational pool league. The American Poolplayers Association, founded in 1979, is a nationwide pool league with more than 250,000 members. The most difficult problem facing the APA operators is the deliberate cheating by the competing players. Players cheat to lower their skill levels which allow them to win more easily in important pool matches such as the APA national championships. Qualitative interviews revealed that when asked about cheating behavior, the players used all five “Techniques of Neutralization (Sykes and Matza, 1957)” to rationalize their actions.

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