The Usual Morals Analysis

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There are many theories that circulate about why criminals commit crimes. Rational choice theory is one of these theories in Criminology. To explain, rational choice theory is the belief that an individual thinks through their cost and benefits, and weight their Therefore, based on that, they make a choice (Lilly, 2012, pp. 362-363). In the movie The Usual Suspects, there is many instances where there is criminal’s activity is taking place. Murder, heists, and fraudulent behavior is all depicted in the movie (Singer, 1995). All of the individuals involved in these crime weigh their means in order to carry out a crime. One instance within the movie where rational choice theory is expressed is when Verbal Kint, Fred Fenster, Todd Hockney, Michael …show more content…
The mysterious Soze has ordered them all to work for him on a very dangerous mission, because they have unknowingly crossed him (Singer, 1995); otherwise, themselves, and their loved ones will be killed. Their mission is to go aboard an Armenian cargo ship that is transporting ninety-one million dollars’ worth of cocaine. All they have to do is botch the trade, and they can keep the loot to devise between themselves. Kint, Keaton, Fenster, Hockney, and McManus are very opposed to the idea of working for the mythical Keyser Soze. Nonetheless, one of the principles of rational choice is that a criminals will not commit a crime, if they believe the cost is grater then the actual gain (Lilly, 2012). Moreover, the book states that criminals will make a sequence of choice, if they are too actually to commit to causing crime (Lilly, 2012, p. 362). Fred Fenster choose to leave the group, he thought the means, or, the “pain” that he would have to go through to commit the crime was far too great, therefore, he left. However, the result was his own death, this motivated the group to choose to participate in the crime, otherwise risk the death of themselves, and their loved ones.
The criminological theory of rational choice tries to help explain why criminals would choose to participate in unlawful acts. When applying this theory to the movie, The Usual Suspects, you can begin to understand that criminals do make choices before coming a crime. Criminals are rational, and go through their options, and how they will gain from their endeavors, before actually committing a

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