JINDAL INSTITUTE OF
BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES (JIBS)
O.P. JINDAL GLOBAL UNIVERSITY
(JGU)
SONIPAT, HARYANA
UNIT 1: THE RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY
- THE CLASSICAL SCHOOL
COURSE INSTRUCTOR: DR CAROLINE
AGBOOLA
OUTLINE
Classical and
Choice process
neoclassical schools
theory
of criminology
Bounded rationality Rationality and
theory crime
CRC Theories -
Routine activities Causes of crime
theory
The rational choice Limitations of the
theory classical school
CONTENTIONS OF
THE CLASSICAL
SCHOOL
Founding fathers The age of
- Cesare enlightenment in
Reason
Beccaria and the 17th and 18th
Jeremy Bentham century
Tradition Religion Superstition
Human nature Free will
RATIONALITY AND CRIME
Rational beings
Criminal acts as conscious acts
Punishment must fit crime by being predictable or
certain, non-discriminatory, quick and humane
Deterrence to crime
The justice scale
CAUSES OF CRIME
Individuals as rational
beings
The principle of
hedonism – the pleasure-
and-pain principle
LIMITATIONS OF THE
CLASSICAL SCHOOL
Criticisms of classical school
Unintended unfairness and harsh
punishments
The development of neoclassical school
of thought
Neoclassical school of thought – past
and present history, aggravating and
mitigating circumstance
The admission of non-legal experts,
such as medical doctors, psychiatrists
and social workers into the law courts
Individualised punishments based on
rationality
THE RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY – THE
CONTEMPORARY RATIONAL CHOICE (CRC) THEORY
CRC went further to
Developed as a response
Agrees with classical and provide explanations as
to the inadequacies of CRC theories are
neo-classical schools that to why individuals choose
classical and neo- referred to as
criminals are rational to commit crime in some
classical schools in opportunity theories
beings circumstances and not in
reducing crime
other circumstances
ROUTINE ACTIVITIES THEORY/
PERSPECTIVE
Founding fathers/ major
proponents: Lawrence Cohen and
Marcus Felson – 1978
Modernisation = increased
opportunity to commit crimes by
individuals
Modernisation = changes in our
daily routine, such as our work, our
home, family, education, leisure,
and these changes make us more
prone to crime
CONTENTIONS OF THE ROUTINE
ACTIVITIES APPROACH
1. For crime to occur, there must be a motivated offender, such as
drug addicts, the unemployed, and so on
2. The availability of suitable targets, and they may be visible.
Felson argues that this is dependent on four criteria, which can be
given the acronym VIVA:
a. Value –this is the worth of the target or item to be stolen
b. Inertia – the likelihood or ease with which the target can be
stolen. The heavier the item, the less the likelihood and ease
of it being stolen. The lighter the item, the higher the
likelihood and ease of its being stolen.
c. Visibility – how visible the target is to the criminals
d. Accessibility – how easy it is to gain access to the target
CONTENTIONS OF THE ROUTINE
ACTIVITIES APPROACH CONTINUED
3. An absence of capable guardians for the suitable
targets, such as homeowners, relatives or family
members, friends, neighbours, security companies,
police and so on
➢ Crime is prone to happen in places where there are
people or circumstances that encourages its
commission
➢ This theory can be used to explain burglary of
houses, particularly when the houses are vacant
ROUTINE ACTIVITIES
THEORY CONTINUED
In terms of crime deterrence or
reduction, decreased opportunities to
commit crime = decrease in crime
statistics
CRITICISMS OF THE
ROUTINE ACTIVITIES
THEORY
Useful in explanations on crime but has its
shortcomings
Does not answer the question of why
crime occurs by not focusing on the
offender. It neglects the offender and
focuses on his/her crime
It blames the victims of crime by
emphasising that they provided the
opportunity for crime to happen to them
STRENGTHS OF ROUTINE ACTIVITIES
THEORY
It provides invaluable
insights into crime
prevention
It complements the
other theories of crime
THE RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY – THE RATIONAL
ACTION OR RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY
Shares similar views with classical
theorists on crime
According to Cornish and Clarke, some
key premise of rational action theory are:
• Criminal acts are deliberate acts. Criminals are
rational, except for a few exceptions
• Criminals consider the pros and cons of their
actions before they commit crimes. The pleasure-
and-pain principle
• The decision that an individual takes regarding
committing crime or not varies depending on the
nature of the crime
THE RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY – THE
BOUNDED RATIONALITY THEORY
Although some criminals are
bounded, constrained or hindered
by factors, such as time,
resources, and information,
Cornish and Clarke contend that
these individuals are still rational
but bounded or constrained in
their decision to commit crimes
THE RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY – THE CHOICE PROCESS THEORY/ MODEL
Similar to the arguments of the classical
Cornish and Clarke contend that choice process
theorists and rational action theory = crime is a
occurs in two major stages, namely:
conscious, deliberate and planned decision
a. The initial involvement stage – This is where b. Once a decision to commit crime is made in
individuals decide whether they want to become the initial involvement stage, a crime-specific
involved in crime so as to satisfy their needs. focus is decided upon. The individual’s current
This stage is influenced by factors such as, past circumstances influences this decision
learning experiences, previous experiences with
crime, past experiences with law enforcement
agents, moral standards or attitudes, self-
perception, and the degree to which individuals
can plan ahead
THE CHOICE PROCESS MODEL
CONTINUED
The proponents believe that apart
from money. Other rewards that
criminals enjoy for committing crimes
are excitement, prestige, fun, sexual
gratification, defying others, and
dominating others
THE END
