Introduction
Rational Choice Theory developed out of classical criminology, a theory developed by Cesare Beccaria (Siegel 2010: 96). Beccaria maintined that people should make their decisions based of fear of being punished, but believed in fair punishment for the crime (Siegel 2010: 96).
Rational Choice Theory is a misnomer because it isn’t, in fact, a theory, but a heuristic model (de Haan & Vos 2009:30). A heuristic model can be assessed in terms of how useful it is, but cannot be proven or disproven (de Haan & Vos 2009:30).
Rational choice views the process of committing a crime as making a set of choices that result in the crime taking place (Joubert 2014: 15). Thus, rational choice theory makes the assumption that criminals choose whether …show more content…
Bounded rationality takes into account the limited available information anyone can process at a given time (Bachmann 2004: 49).
The six propositions
(apply examples from the case study where applicable)
The rational choice model developed by Cornish and Clarke (Bachmann 2004: 49) is based on six propositions – found below. These propositions provide the core of the rational choice model (Bachmann 2004: 49).
(i) Crimes are deliberate acts, committed with the intention of benefiting the offender.
(ii) Offenders try to make the best decisions they can, given the risks and uncertainty involved.
(iii) Offender decision making varies considerably according to the nature of the crime.
(iv) Decisions about becoming involved in particular kinds of crime (``involvement decisions'') are quite different from those relating to the commission of a specific criminal act (``event …show more content…
For example, preparation (when to do the crime, i.e. reduce risks), target selection (which house to burgle), commission of the act, escape, and aftermath.
Bounded rationality
(apply examples from the case study where applicable)
As discussed above, bounded rationality is making decisions with the information at hand, with the time available.
Bounded rationality can mean that criminals could not be influenced by long-term rewards, and could only be influenced by instant and definite punishments (Hayward 2007: 239)
The choice process
(apply examples from the case study where applicable)
Research has shown (Brown, Esbensen & Geis 2010: 171) that choosing to commit a crime is a much more multifaceted than initially thought by the deterrence theorists. Once the decision to commit a crime has been made, there is then decision of what crime to commit, when, and what to do after the case (Brown et al 2010: 171). The choice process is continual for criminals, it doesn’t have an end, with many elements playing a role in the decisions (Brown et al 2010:
Rational Choice Theory developed out of classical criminology, a theory developed by Cesare Beccaria (Siegel 2010: 96). Beccaria maintined that people should make their decisions based of fear of being punished, but believed in fair punishment for the crime (Siegel 2010: 96).
Rational Choice Theory is a misnomer because it isn’t, in fact, a theory, but a heuristic model (de Haan & Vos 2009:30). A heuristic model can be assessed in terms of how useful it is, but cannot be proven or disproven (de Haan & Vos 2009:30).
Rational choice views the process of committing a crime as making a set of choices that result in the crime taking place (Joubert 2014: 15). Thus, rational choice theory makes the assumption that criminals choose whether …show more content…
Bounded rationality takes into account the limited available information anyone can process at a given time (Bachmann 2004: 49).
The six propositions
(apply examples from the case study where applicable)
The rational choice model developed by Cornish and Clarke (Bachmann 2004: 49) is based on six propositions – found below. These propositions provide the core of the rational choice model (Bachmann 2004: 49).
(i) Crimes are deliberate acts, committed with the intention of benefiting the offender.
(ii) Offenders try to make the best decisions they can, given the risks and uncertainty involved.
(iii) Offender decision making varies considerably according to the nature of the crime.
(iv) Decisions about becoming involved in particular kinds of crime (``involvement decisions'') are quite different from those relating to the commission of a specific criminal act (``event …show more content…
For example, preparation (when to do the crime, i.e. reduce risks), target selection (which house to burgle), commission of the act, escape, and aftermath.
Bounded rationality
(apply examples from the case study where applicable)
As discussed above, bounded rationality is making decisions with the information at hand, with the time available.
Bounded rationality can mean that criminals could not be influenced by long-term rewards, and could only be influenced by instant and definite punishments (Hayward 2007: 239)
The choice process
(apply examples from the case study where applicable)
Research has shown (Brown, Esbensen & Geis 2010: 171) that choosing to commit a crime is a much more multifaceted than initially thought by the deterrence theorists. Once the decision to commit a crime has been made, there is then decision of what crime to commit, when, and what to do after the case (Brown et al 2010: 171). The choice process is continual for criminals, it doesn’t have an end, with many elements playing a role in the decisions (Brown et al 2010: