Rational Choice Theory: Why Do People Commit Crimes

There are different types of “white collar crime” that exists inclusive of fraud, embezzlement, insider trading and Ponzi schemes. “White collar crime” affects everyone and the main driving force of the perpetrator of the white collar crime is mainly greed plain and simple. There are different theories associated with “white collar crime”. One of these such theories is the rational choice theory. The rational choice theory indicates that persons have a choice of whether to commit an offence or not. In this case “white collar crime”. Therefore, before committing the crime the offender weighs the pros and cons associated with the crime. The offender who decides to commit “white collar crime” goes about it in the everyday activities in their job. The offender on a daily basis will observe a certain type of “white collar crime” taking place in his workplace and during the daily or routine interaction with his colleague who is carrying on the crime, will learn how to commit the same type of “white collar crime”

Aaron Hernandez is a previous NFL player for the New England Patriots. In 2013 Hernandez was discovered blameworthy of first degree murder. The next year he was likewise discovered liable of a double homicide. Why might a 40 million dollar rising star perpetrate such a wrongdoing? Numerous theories have been produced to clarify criminal conduct. While a few theories are not as regular, others have developed and are utilized as a part of numerous criminal reviews today. Cutting edge criminologists consolidate the most important aspects of sociology, psychology, anthropology, and biological theories to advance their comprehension of criminal behavior. Rational choice theory, psychological, biological, and strain theory are used to analyze the

It does not consider other factors such as criminal associations, individual traits, and inner strains, which plays a significant role in determining punishment for the individuals in committing crimes. It is observed that this theory endeavours to know that whether the activities of crime as well as the victim’s choice, criminals commit the activities on start from rational decisions. The theory also determines that criminals consider different elements before committing crime. They engage in the exchange of ideas before reaching on any final decision. These elements consist of consequences of their crimes, which include revealing their families to problems or death, chances of being arrested, and others elements, which comprises of placement of surveillance systems (Walsh & Hemmens, 2010; Lichbach,

Rational choice theory is the most useful for understanding white collar crime. These are crimes that often require specialized knowledge, or access. They are often committed by individuals with advanced educations. This theory is vital to contemporary political science in addition to other chastisements for instance sociology and philosophy. The core of the rational choice theory can often be challenged amongst several courses of encounters, people typically do according to what they consider to result in the best inclusive outcome. A white collar crime is committed to make profits, they are not the acts of madmen or irrational people. They are rational acts that often require planning and careful

The classical theory of crime says that people make rational choices when they commit crimes. “Individuals have the will and rationality to act according to their own will and desires. Individuals will calculate the rationality of the crime based on the benefits of the crime versus the consequences of the crime” (Robinson, 2014). This theory discuses that how people think about the negative and positive outcomes before they commit crime. Even though they realize it is not right, they still continue to commit illegal offence because they believe that what they are doing is for the greater

Situational crime prevention (SCP) and rational choice theory (RCT), together, provide an insightful explanation as to why people commit crimes and what can be done to deter them. Much of the work done in RCT and SCP was founded by Derek Cornish and Ronald V. Clarke, who wanted to understand the decision-making process of potential offenders and focus on the spatial and situational factors that make such crime possible (Farrell and Hodgkinson, 2015). This paper aims to explore SCP and its relationship to RCT, as well as analyze the works of Keith Hayward and Graham Farrell in their discussion of these ideas. This paper has four objectives: first, the paper will discuss SCP and RCT and explain the link between the two concepts. Second, this paper will examine Hayward 's discussion of RCT, SCP, and cultural criminology. Third, I will explore Farrell 's critique of Hayward 's article and consider his arguments made in response to Hayward 's conclusions. Fourth, this paper will engage in its own critique of both Hayward 's and Farrell 's work and conclude with which article makes the most compelling argument.

For my article I chose, “Decision Making in the Crime Commission Process: Comparing Rapist, Child Molesters, and Victim-Crossover Sex Offenders” by Eric Beauregard, Benoit Leclerc, and Patrick Lussier. In traditional beliefs it suggests sex offenders are mainly driven by an uncontrollable urge to sexually offend. This article takes a looks into comparing how rapist, child molesters, and victim-crossover sex offenders make their criminal decisions. It investigated how decision-making is involved in target selection. The researchers used mixed methods along with Clarke and Cornish’s decision-making model to evaluate the offender’s actions. In the first studies, sex offenders’ decision-making was investigated using the rational choice approach.

Criminal behaviour has always been an interest for psychologists, for they could never quite come to a conclusion between nature and nurture. Research concerning this topic has been organized for many years and due to the never ending debate, is still being conducted. I have decided to read and write about this myself, for I was genuinely curious about the matter and wanted to be a part of the research, as I felt responsible to do so. I believe that in order to stop something, it must be discussed and scrutinized. What effects do genes have on criminal behaviour, why do peer pressure and habitat influence a person to commit crimes and are men really more violent than women? My paper aims to discuss the three different factors of criminal behaviour, what causes it and why. My essay will examine and focus mainly on the genetic makeup of a person, the environment in which they are raised in and gender differences.

The idea that all criminal offenders are rational and acting in the pursuit of their own self-interest is not indicative of all criminals. Firstly a major flaw in this mindset is that it assumes all criminal acts are well thought out and are committed after weighing the benefits of the crime against the possible punishments if they are caught at some point. Not all, or even most, crimes fit into this category of planned and decided action. Many crimes are committed in a very irrational manner with no forethought or planning. These crimes, often referred to as crimes of passion, are committed by people who are unable or unwilling to pause for reflection and are acting without any self-control. Their emotions are sending them such powerful signals

Rational choice theory is Attempts to explain all (conforming and deviant) social phenomenon in terms of how self-interested individuals make choices under the influence of their preferences. It treats social exchange as similar to an economic exchange where all parties try to maximize their advantage or gain and to minimize their disadvantage or loss. RCT's basic premises are that human beings base their behavior on rational calculations, they act with rationality when making choices, their choices are aimed at optimization of their pleasure or profit. An example of Rational choice theory applying to criminal behavior would be a criminal who sells drugs for the goal of money but also weigh out the risk of getting caught. The scene from Goodfellas that applied to rational choice theory was where Henry blew up

interviews, assessments, and questionnaires), to gain insight of their 369 Terra Haute, Indiana prison inmates sample. Based on their findings, it is argued that white collar criminals do make rational decisions such as weighing the risks-and-rewards, but it is done so differently than criminals who commit other crimes (Stadler and Benson 2012). This is significant because it provides a criminal-type comparison to answer the research question. To elaborate, scholars would explain white collar criminals to possess a different type of rational thinking when compared to offenders of other

There are many theories that exist for criminal perspective, all giving different explanations on why criminals choose to make the choices they do. I have decided to choose the rational choice theory and give an analysis of its major arguments.

Crime can be dated back to many centuries ago in the history of the United States. Although types and definitions of crime have evolved over time, the crime itself has and continues to be viewed negatively by society. In addition, crime rates are never the same and have varied throughout history. So what factors deter or increase crime? This question has also been asked and studied by several throughout time. For instance, to determine crime rates, the four school of thoughts (the Chicago School, Differential Association/Social Learning, Anomie, and Strain theories) have studied crime rate and factors that surround crime. There are multiple studies conducted on crime but recently this large city that has made dramatic changes to its crime statistic

There are many phenomena that could cause or correlate with crime. In addition to this, there are many characteristics to these phenomena that cause/correlate with criminal behavior. Furthermore, these characteristics can be individual, sociological, or both that could have an effect on criminal behavior. This paper will take the educational avenue on crime. Also, there are numerous ways that education can correlate with crime. The first way of correlation is through an economic scope. This way will take a look at how education can have an effect on an individual’s wages that may deter them from crime. The second way education has an affect on crime is the principles that a school would teach to kids that could keep them from crime. In addition, this section will focus on some key sociological aspects. The next way that crime is correlated with education is that crime could be a barrier to education. Finally, some statistics to present the education and crime correlation. There is a correlation between education and crime that shows the more education an individual obtains, the more opportunity costs, which would reduce the risk of the individual participating in criminal behavior.

There are loads of theories on crime and why people commit them. If I had to pick a favorite one I would pick rational choice theory. Rational choice theory definition is the view that people behave as they do because they believe that performing their chosen actions has more benefits and less costly than living a legal life. That is, people make rational choices based on their goals, and those choices govern their behavior.