Rational Choice Theory Criminology - 901 Words

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, â€Å"this diamond that I want to†¦show more content†¦These biologically pseudoscientific theories later played a role in German Nazi classification of racial, intelligence and behavioral typing as well. Again, the idea of individual rational choice as an element of criminal behavior was downplayed. Slightly less contrasting to the rational choice theory is the Psychobiological theory of human behavior. Originating with human genetic research in the 1960s, this theory stood for the proposition that the chemical makeup of a person—whether a result of naturally occurring DNA, genetic mutation caused by environmental contaminants, chemical changes through the addition or retraction of key nutrients, or chemical reactions to physical trauma—all contributed to the way the individual formulated thoughts, feeling and positive or criminal behavior. Here, the idea of the individual making rational â€Å"cost/benefit† choices was not discounted; rather, the thought process was considered as being influenced heavily by chemical and biological factors. If an individual’s chemical makeup were â€Å"out of balance†, that condition was deemed to cause undesirable or socially deviant behavior, contributing to criminal thou ght and action. Similar to the Psychobiological school of thought is the Psychological school of criminal causation. Two main undercurrents to this theory were biological causation and environmental causation, which were consideredShow MoreRelatedThe Rational Choice Theory Of Criminology1106 Words   |  5 Pages The Rational Choice Theory April Smolkowicz Criminology 3200 Georgia Gwinnett College  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. CriminalsRead MoreRational Choice Theory Criminology1151 Words   |  5 PagesIn Criminology, Prof. Boldt has either talked about or brought up a few dozen theories in just a few weeks. However one theory seems to show up more than the others, and is the more dominant explanation in describing criminal behavior. This concept is referred to as Rational Choice Theory. Over time theories have been produced to explain and help understand what leads to criminal behavior. The reason why people have studied these theories so closely is because of the helpful nature it provides toRead MoreCriminology Rational Choice Theory1683 Words   |  7 PagesName Instructor Course Date Essay Questions Question 1 At the core of criminology, there is a belief that a criminal decides to commit a crime after weighing the benefits and disadvantages of engaging. In such a case, the decision to commit the crime is a rational one, and the best way to counter it is through a deterrence-based system. 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Through definition, example and techniques utilized by criminologists, the reader will have a better understanding of the subject. By definition, criminology is the study of crime, criminal behavior and how it pertains to the law. Criminology is considered a scientific technique. Therefore, those who study and carry out its theories are consideredRead MoreRational Decision Making And Its Effect On Crime Causation Essay1497 Words   |  6 Pages Rational Decision Making and its Effect on Crime Causation Most, if not all Americans, are familiar with the story of Batman and his alter ego Bruce Wayne. As a small child Bruce s parents were brutally gunned down in front of him prompting him to don the cape and mask to rid Gotham city of injustice. In the 2005 movie adaptation starring Christian Bale, Batman is asked why he so selflessly protects the city. He replies, â€Å"It s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.† I believeRead MoreThe Theories Of Criminology And The Riots930 Words   |  4 PagesEvery crime has a correlation with a theory in criminology. These theories explain why crime happens and some even go to the extent to come up with a solution to prevent or stop crime. This paper will explore how certain theories of criminology connect with the riots that happened in Ferguson, Missouri. Facts from different articles will be used to back up the theory. The theories will explain why rioters committed the crimes did. The paper will take the actions of t he protestors and explain whyRead MoreRational Choice Theory Of Criminal Behavior Essay1617 Words   |  7 Pagescase the choices that criminals make brings them pleasure and adrenaline. Criminal choices can be controlled by fear of punishment, but not all the time. The crime will be limited when the benefits are reduced and the costs increase. Rational choice theory is a perspective that holds criminality in the result of conscious choice. Not to mention, that it is predicted that individuals choose to commit crime when the benefits outweigh the costs of disobeying the law. In the rational choice theory, individualsRead MoreThe Rational Choice Theory1728 Words   |  7 PagesLa’Shante Samuels Kaplan University, CJ102 Criminology Unit Five Midterm Project The Rational Choice theory approach has been used by social and political scientists to put some type of meaning of why humans behave in a certain way. In recent years, rational choice theory has been widely used in other disciplines such as sociology, political science, and anthropology. It has gained influence in politics and sociology over the past thirty years. This choice theory stressed the role of knowledgeable selfRead MoreGeneral Theory Of Crime And Delinquency919 Words   |  4 PagesGeneral Theory of Crime and Delinquency Many theories exist including biological, psychological, and sociological theories that have been proposed by many criminologists in the criminal justice field and have been closely studied by people (Agnew, Cullen, Wilcox, 2004). Most theories are proposed at the micro level meaning it tries to explain the criminal behavior of individuals and some are proposed at the macro level which tries to explain the crime rates in social groups, meaning micro focuses