Rational choice theory and its assumptions about human behavior have been integrated into numerous criminological theories and criminal justice interventions. Rational choice theory originated during the late 18th century with the work of Cesare Beccaria.
Since then, the theory has been expanded upon and extended to include other perspectives, such as deterrence, situational crime prevention, and routine activity theory. The rational choice perspective has been applied to a wide range of crimes, including robbery, drug use, vandalism, and white-collar crime.
Cornish and Clarke includes numerous theoretical and empirical essays that describe the process of criminal decision making. Piquero and Tibbetts includes scholarly chapters that address a number of issues relating to rational choice theory, such as the methodological issues associated with rational choice and the integration of rational choice theory into other theories such as feminist theory. This book also contains chapters that describe how rational choice can be applied to a number of criminal behaviors, such as organized crime, corporate crime, and violent behavior.
Clarke and Felson includes a series of essays that apply rational choice to different types of crimes, and that discuss the integration of rational choice with other theories.
In addition, this volume includes essays that discuss how opportunity structures and rational choice come together to create a criminal offense. Ariely discusses how human decision-making processes are more irrational than rational. Ariely, Dan. Predictably irrational: The hidden forces that shape our decisions. New York: HarperCollins. Covers decision making from a general standpoint. In addition, the author discusses how various factors, such as sexual arousal and relativity, shape decision-making processes.
Clarke, Ronald V. Routine activity and rational choice. Discusses how rational choice and routine activity theory can be applied to victimology, corporate crime, gun crimes, violent offending, political violence, and kidnapping.
General deterrence occurs when someone who has not yet been punished refrains from committing a crime because of the punishment he or she may receive should he or she get caught Andenaes, In this case, what deters the would-be offender from committing crime is the fear of a formal or legal punishment.
When someone just released from prison contemplates committing another crime but refrains from doing so because she fears going back to prison if she is arrested and convicted, she too is said to be deterred by the fear of a sanction; in this case, the sanction is imprisonment, which is another form of formal or legal punishment.
This is an example of what is called specific deterrence Andenaes, Specific deterrence occurs when a person who has just been punished refrains from committing a crime because he or she fears another dose of punishment. In general deterrence, it is the threat of legal punishment that inhibits criminal offending among people who have not yet been punished, whereas in specific deterrence the inhibiting factor among those who have been punished is the threat of being punished again.
Notice that any penalty, such as imprisonment, can act as both a general deterrent when it leads the public to conform because of the threat of prison should they commit a crime and as a specific deterrent when it deters an inmate just released from prison from committing another crime. Rational choice theory can be used in conjunction with other social work theories, like social learning theory and psychosocial development theory.
Rational choice theory provides a framework for social worker intervention. Did you know that you can study for a degree in social work online? We have made it easier for you to find and compare online social work degrees at all levels. Introduction to Rational Choice Theory in Social Work Rational choice theory in social work is an important concept because it helps explain how individuals make decisions.
What is Rational Choice Theory? History of rational choice theory Rational choice theory origins date back centuries. Assumptions of rational choice theory In order to fit the criteria for rational choice theory, the following assumptions are made. All actions are rational and are made due to considering costs and rewards.
The reward of a relationship or action must outweigh the cost for the action to be completed. When the value of the reward diminishes below the value of the costs incurred, the person will stop the action or end the relationship. Individuals will use the resources at their disposal to optimize their rewards.
Applications of rational choice theory Rational choice theory has a wide variety of applications in all types of spheres affecting human populations. Economics and business: Rational choice theory can explain individual purchasing behaviors. Politics: Rational choice theory can be used to explain voting behaviors, the actions of politicians and how political issues are handled. Sociology: Rational choice theory can explain social phenomena.
This is because all social change and institutions occur because of individual actions. Addiction treatment: Rational choice theory can be used to identify addiction motivations and provide substance alternatives that are equally beneficial to patients.
Strengths and weaknesses of rational choice theory Rational choice theory can be helpful in understanding individual and collective behaviors. Examine why their clients behave in certain ways, including engaging in self-destructive behaviors and addictions.
0コメント