Rational Choice Theory Of Crime

While watching Taken, a criminal justice major can pick out several different examples of criminological theories. However, the theory I found to be the most relevant was the rational choice theory. Several sociologists and criminologists believe that an individual’s decision to commit a crime is determined by several personal reasons. Those who strongly enforce the rational choice theory believe that an individual who is considering criminal behavior first decides whether or not he/she is willing to become

This idea of a rational calculation of the advantages and disadvantages of crime runs parallel with the Rational Choice Theory offered to us by

According to Paternoster (2010), the majority of Beccaria’s original deterrence ideals concluded that self-interest to commit an offense could be stopped by legal punishments that are definite, relational, and immediate. Paternoster (2010), determined that Beccaria provided the rational authority with applied strategies to make legal systems more cogent and effective. However, according to Paternoster (2010), Beccaria fell short in providing a developed theory of crime or criminal conduct; he also failed to provide a theory of behavior other than the conception that offenses are motivated by self-interest.

Rational choice theory originates from the oldest criminological school of thought and criminological theorists, but the theory itself is new, only forming in the last five decades. Ronald Clarke and Derek Cornish, using the work of previous criminologists, put forth the rational choice perspective as a criminological theory (Adler, Mueller, & Laufer, 2016). This theory has its roots in the classical school of thought in which individuals had the power to make decisions after weighing the consequence of such actions (Adler, Mueller, & Laufer, 2016). The work of Cesare Beccaria in the late 1700’s cemented this theory’s existence from the beginning of criminology (Adler, Mueller, & Laufer, 2016). Rational choice theory was also greatly influenced by Jeremy Bentham and his idea of felicific calculus, in which a decision to commit crime is made after putting risk variables in an equation (Adler, Mueller, & Laufer, 2016). Bentham says all humans work this way, evaluating whether a crime is worth committing (Adler, Mueller, & Laufer, 2016). Bentham was inspired by utilitarian theory, which states that individuals make decisions to maximize profits and minimize pain (Adler, Mueller, & Laufer, 2016). In addition, rational choice theory is also based on traditional economic choice theory that states people will choose what will appease their desires after weighing their options (Adler, Mueller, & Laufer, 2016). This paper will examine the effectiveness of the application of rational

Rational choice theory was founded by Derek Cornish and Ronald Clarke (Lilly, 2012, p. 362). This theory explains “crime is not simply due to underlying motivations or predispositions; it also involves a concrete choice” (Lilly, 2012, p. 362). People must make choices “if these motivations are to result in an actual criminal act” (Lilly, 2012, p. 362). There is not just one factor motivating them. These people know the consequences of their actions, and decide to act on them anyways. Cultural deviance theory explains that “criminal beliefs exist that define criminal acts as permissible or, even more positively, as required” (Lilly, 2012). This theory relates to the rational choice theory in many ways. The people who are committing the crimes believe that the crime is necessary, so they are making the choice to act upon that belief. Also, there are many different factors that are incorporated into the belief that makes it acceptable to act in a criminal

Rational choice theories are among the fastest growing theories in social science today. Many sociologists and political scientists defend the claim that rational choice theory can provide the basis for a unified and comprehensive theory of social behavior. What distinguishes rational choice theory from other forms of theory is that it denies the existence of any kinds of action other than the purely rational and calculative. All social action can be seen as rationally motivated, as instrumental action, however much of it may appear to be irrational or non-rational. I believe that the Rational Choice Theory would be most beneficial in the reduction or control of crime.

Deterrence and Rational Choice are two theories that our criminal justice system has been in place to prevent criminals from committing crimes. Of the many types of deterrence that is available to use that displays our societies consequences, we are going to look at

One of the theories that we have been addressing within the last three weeks is the Rational Choice Theory. The Rational Choice Theory explains a reasoning why someone might commit a crime. For those who believe in Rational Choice Theory, they deem every person to have the free will to make their own decisions. With that being said, when an individual is forced to make a decision between committing a crime or not, they willingly choose to weigh the consequences of their actions. If the risk of committing the crime outweighs the benefits then the crime will not take place (Steele, 2015). Within the standards of this theory, the choice to commit a crime is often one of opportunity and not one that is spontaneous. The thought process to commit a crime would consists of not only cost and benefits but also of a plan that would help the individual get what they desire. Thoughts such as time of day, who their victim would be, how will they accomplish their goal, will they have a weapon, will someone else be involved, and more would all be considered (Beauregard & Leclerc, 2007).

Choice theory was born out of the perspective of crime causation which states that criminality is the result of conscious choice. This theory is also known as the rational choice theory. According to this theory, the choice whether or not to commit a criminal act is the result of a rational thought process that weighs the risks of paying the costs of committing a crime, against the benefits obtained. In other words, if the benefits--monetary or otherwise--outweigh the risks of sustaining the costs, such as fines, imprisonment or execution, then according to this theory the individual would be inclined to commit the crime, all other things being equal. In this calculus, the benefits are known. For example, “this diamond that I want to

The Classical School of Criminology was developed by two utilitarian philosophers, Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham during the early 17th century. The Classical School of Criminology is an important theory in the framework of criminal behavior, with principle themes that include: criminal acts are of individuals free will and rational deliberation, calculating, and hedonistic beings. Criminals make a rational choice and choose criminal acts due to maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain. As well as minimizing crime, the would be offender must be convinced that the likely punishment for the crime would be swift, certain and proportionately (Paternoster & Bachman, 2001, p. 11).

As applied to the criminal law, it states that in many situations, the reason that people commit a crime is because they have chosen to which is known as “Rational choice theory”. This where people have the intent to commit a crime, and follow through on that crime. The motive for committing the crime has much to do with the advantages of what one will gain. For example; a suspect breaks into a store to steal food because there kids are starving and there’s no money to feed them. Another example is where you help a spouse, or family member get illegal prescription drugs because they are really sick or in pain and you feel the last resort is to steal it for them, not because you want it for your own personal gain but to help the situation. The

Beccaria questioned whether the extreme and tortuous punishments (which often included the death penalty) routinely dished out even had any effect in terms of deterring crime. In his most important works Dei delitti e delle pene, or “On Crimes and Punishments” Beccaria asked:

Rational Choice Theory attempts to provide proof that offenders make a rational choice to commit crime by measuring all possibilities and outcomes instead of influence as many other theory explained. According to the RCT, Offenders are usually searching for advantage from their antisocial behavior. Rational Choice Theory also adopts that regardless acknowledged the possibility of going to prison offenders have consciously made the decision to commit the crime. Rational choice theory does not take agree with the idea that offenders simply commit crime because they believe they won’t get caught. One example, which can be used by RCT, is a White collar crime; the individual calculates all the possibilities and decides to draw off money from

It is better to try and prevent crimes than it is to punish them, this is achieved by good legislation which guides men to their greatest, or least unhappiness possible (Beccaria, 1767). As mentioned previously, Beccaria’s utilitarian ideology has shaped the justice system in western societies for many decades. Therefore, Beccaria can be described as a very influential thinker. Without his contribution we could still have a system of capital punishment, and that is a worrying thought. However, we now seem fixed with utilitarian justice. It may be argued that it is now time to move towards restorative justice. There are also those such as Tullock (1974), who argue for a return to harsher sentencing. Some states in the US still consider the death penalty to be a legitimate punishment. So it can be said that Beccaria is undoubtedly a key thinker in criminology, but as with all key thinkers he is not without his critics.

Rational choice theory states that people always make logical decisions. Those decisions give people great satisfaction. This theory has the idea that all people base their choices on rational predictions, and act rationally.