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One element that the rational-choice perspective and the routine-activity approach have in common is the consideration of target vulnerability. The rational-choice perspective assumes that an offender thinks about a variety of factors such as how vulnerable is the target, before committing the crime. According to the routine-activity approach that for a crime to occur there has to be a suitable target.
Another common element that the rational-choice perspective and the routine-activity approach share is the importance of having no police or other authorities present when the crime is committed. In the rational-choice perspective there is the assumption that the offender takes in consideration that if there were police or other authorities
Routine Activities Theory includes elements from deterrence and rational choice theories. Routine Activity Theory provides a simple and influential imminent into the sources of ...
The premise of routine activity theory moves away from the suggestion that crime is caused by social impacts such as unemployment, inequality and low socio economic status, and rather looks at crime occurring when there is a convergence of a motivated offender, a suitable target and a lack of suitable guardians (Cohen & Felson, 2010). Routine activity theory focuses on trends in behaviour, and asserts that crime is specific to space and time (Williams, 2012). Routine activity theory looks at the differing risks that different locations possess, and the correlation between different lifestyles and victimisation (Cohen & Felson, 1979). By identifying the factors that can influence a person or a place being at an increased risk of victimisation, it may be possible to educate residents, increase the number of capable guardians and apply strategies to reduce crime by utilising law enforcement and increasing guardianship (Cullen & Wilcox,
Routine activities theory states that for a crime to occur three conditions must coincide in the same space and time: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian. The internet as we know today connects many people from around the world, regardless of age or country, and according to the theory, these circumstances will increase the opportunity of crimes.
The rational choice perspective is a great way of understanding society and larger systems. When I read in our book how human behavior is based on self-interest and rational choices about effective ways to accomplish goals (Hutchison, 2008, p. 46), my past interactions made so much more sense. This is because human interaction involves trade of social resources, such as love, approval, information, money, and physical labor (Hutchison, 2008, p. 46).
According to Hess, Orthmann, and Wright, there are many theories that causes criminal behavior. Criminal behavior refers to the misconduct of an offender that leads to the commission of an unlawful act (Legal, I. U.). It is said that one’s environment can be influential to those whose commit crimes. The purpose of this essay is to discusses two of the most major theories of criminology: social learning and rational choice theory. I will then analyze each of these theories and their assumptions when it comes to the reasoning of criminal behavior.
Pratt, T. C. (2008). Rational Choice theory, criminal control policy, and criminology relevance. Policy essay, 43-52.
Rational choice theory is something that I have learned in much detail from a previous class. According to the book, it states, “Rational choice theory is a perspective that criminologists adapted from economists, who used it to explain a variety of individuals decisions regarding a variety of behaviors”(Tibbetts). One person that could relate to this
Personal choice to commit a crime shows the person’s ability to rationalize; indicating they are knowledgeable that the act is illegal, and those consequences can ensue, According to (e.g.. TRAVIS HIRSCHI, 1986) he stated that, because rational choice theory assumed that people are free to choose their course of action, people consider first their own profit or pleasure, which is a personal choice to commit a crime. An example could be a mother of an infant who is in desperate need of milk for her new born. She decides to steal formula from the supermarket for her new born. Because of her personal choice, she decided that committing a crime was a better option than her infant going hungry despite the consequence of theft.
Chapter 3, pages 65-68 of Cultural Criminology discusses the two approaches to crime dominate orthodox criminological theory: rational choice theory and positivism – the first stressing the mundane, the second the measurable (e.g. Felson, 1998). According to rational choice theory, crime occurs when there is access of opportunity and low levels of social control. Rational rather than emotional attempts are taken to distance crime from social injustices and structural inequalities. Secondly, sociological positivism believes the following are responsible measures for criminal behaviors, lack of work, inequality, lack of social capital, and community breakdown.
In everyday real life situations, one keeps on making various decisions depending on a number of factors. Thus, decision-making is an integral tool in human life, and one cannot avoid it. In view of this, experts report that individuals make use of varying decision-making models to arrive at a decision that suits them. Here, the writer presents four decision-making models, namely the classical, behavioral, satisficing, and optimizing models.
In this case study, Laura and Danny have had significant changes in their lives. Laura has now left with the children and planning on moving with them to El Paso, Texas in a month. She has also filed for divorce from Danny. While Laura is making positive improvements to her life she is still concerned for Danny. She goes to collect what’s left of her belongings when she finds Danny in a state of panic. Danny has let himself go at this point. He started consuming alcohol, has not found a job, and is living with no electricity. Kid decides to pay Danny and Laura a visit and he quickly realizes Danny is in trouble. Danny begs for Kid’s assistance in order to help him start a new life. Danny is worried that he will end up alone and homeless
In comparison, the deterrence theory proposes that the fear of legal punishment diverts people away from crime, while rational choice theory advances that in the act of choosing whether or not to commit a crime the benefits are weighed (Stafford and Warr, 1993; Cornish and Clarke, 1986). Hence, in both theories pain is a cause for not committing crimes. Furthermore, the deterrence theory has two chil...
The routine activities theory of crime, developed by Cohen and Felson, focuses on the events of a crime and the relation of factors that led to the causation of the crime or suitable targets (Miro, 2014). Moreover, the theory shifts attention from the offender to the opportunities for crime presented by everyday routines (Osgood, Wilson, O’Malley, Bachman, Johnston, 1996). Therefore, instead on searching for an offender’s motive, factors such as the absence of a guardian, social change, or vulnerability, contribute to the explanation of the crime.
The aim of this paper is to thoroughly analyses the advice provided by the university of Botswana security services regarding victimization and crime prevention consistent with routine activity theory .Victimization means exploiting someone or treating them unfairly and unjustly(thesaurus;1999). Crime prevention which involves rational choice and routine activity theories is described organizations such as United Nations, World Health organization and the UK Audit Commission as the attempt to reduce or deter crime and criminals. Routine Activity theory is a sub-field of crime opportunity that focuses on situations of crimes. It has been developed by Marcus Felson and Lawrence E. Cohen, the premise of routine activity theory is that crime is relatively unaffected by social causes such as poverty, inequality and unemployment (Alex, 2011). The simple version of the terms proves that routine
In this essay an examination will be explored of some of the strengths and limitations of rational-choice based perspectives of crime control, also there will an explanation of how developmental theories have recently informed our understanding of criminal behavior as a developmental process. Rational choice theories have as a starting point the idea that offenders seek to get some benefit to themselves by their criminal behavior, that they seek to gain that benefit by conscious decisions that they make, and that these decision, no matter how basic, reveal a measure of rationality. (Cornish and Clarke, 1986) There were several factors that were determined to have an influence on the choice a person might make to commit a burglary, for example, they would include background factors, like psychological, previous learning experiences, generalized needs, perceived solutions and reaction to chance events. The rational choice theory acknowledges situational variables and recognizes their importance to specific criminal events. (Cornish and Clarke, 1986) One of the main limitations of this theory is that at its very core is the idea of a reasoning offender, therefore it does not adequately take into account the empirical evidence that many criminals commit their crimes impulsively, and without “counting the cost” of their criminal activity. Also, this theory does not adequately take into account the pathology that engulfs many criminals, and the strong influence that they have on decisions that they make.