rational choice theory thesis

The Unexpected in Action pp 75–90 Cite as

The Theory of Rational Choice: Potential and Criticality

• Antonio Cocozza 3  
• First Online: 22 March 2023

170 Accesses

Part of the book series: Theory and History in the Human and Social Sciences ((THHSS))

In this chapter, we see how Boudon and Antiseri probed deeper into this position, which gained considerable space within the specific field of sociology, particularly among authors from Homans to Coleman who referred to the theory of rational choice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution .

Buying options

• Available as PDF
• Read on any device
• Instant download
• Own it forever
• Available as EPUB and PDF
• Compact, lightweight edition
• Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
• Free shipping worldwide - see info
• Durable hardcover edition

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Schumpeter himself introduced the distinction between methodological individualism and ethical-political individualism.

Bibliography

Allais, M. (1953). Le comportement de l’homme rationnel devant le risque critique des postulats de l’Ecole américaine. Econometrica, 21 (4), 503–546.

Article   Google Scholar  

Allais, M., & Hagen, O. (1979). Expected utility hypotheses and the alias paradox: Contemporary discussion of decision under uncertainty with Allais’Rejoinde . Reidel.

Book   Google Scholar  

Antiseri, D. (1989). Teoria della razionalità e scienze sociali . Borla.

Google Scholar  

Antiseri, D. (Ed.). (1993). Teoria della razionalità . Borla.

Antiseri, D. (1996). Trattato di metodologia delle scienze sociali . Utet Libreria.

Antiseri, D. (2002a). Razionalità scientifica e razionalità filosofica. In R. Boudon, A. Oliverio, & D. Antiseri (Eds.), Teoria della razionalità e scienze sociali . Luiss Edizioni.

Antiseri, D. (2002b). Karl Popper. Protagonista del secolo XX . Rubbettino.

Arrow, K. (1977). Scelte sociali e valori individuali . Etas, ed. or. (1951).

Aumann, R. J., & Hart, S. (1992). Handbook of game theory with economic applications . North-Holland.

Axerold, R. (1984). The evolution of cooperation . Basic Books.

Binmore, K. (1990). Essays on the foundations of game theory . Blackwell.

Boudon, R. (1970). Metodologia della ricerca sociologica . Il Mulino, ed. or. (1969). Les méthodes en sociologie . Presses Universitarie de France.

Boudon, R. (1977). Effets pervers et ordre social . Puf.

Boudon, R. (1980). La logica del sociale . Mondadori.

Boudon, R. (1985). Il posto del disordine . Il Mulino, ed. or. (1984).

Boudon, R., Oliverio, A., & Antiseri, D. (2002). Teoria della razionalità e scienze sociali . Luiss Edizioni.

Bouvier, A., & Oliverio, A. (2001). Azione, razionalità, decisione . Luiss Edizioni.

Coleman, J. S. (1990). Foundations of social theory . Harvard University Press.

Coleman, J. S., & Fararo, T. (1992). Rational choice theory. Advocacy and critique . Sage.

Elster, J. (1983). Ulisse e le sirene. Indagini sulla razionalità e l’irrazionalità . Il Mulino, ed. or. (1979).

Ferejohn, F. J., & Fiorina, M. (1974). The paradox of not voting: A decision-theoretic analysis. The American Political Science Review, 68 , 525–536.

Ferguson, A. (1767). An essay of the history of civil society (D. Forbes, Eds.) (1966). Edinburgh University Press, trad. it. (1999). Saggio sulla storia della società civile . Laterza.

Ferguson, A. (1792). Principles of moral and political science . Strahan e Cadell.

Fisher, R., & Ury, W. (1985). Getting to yes . Harvard University Press.

Gouldner, A. W. (1970). Modelli di burocrazia aziendale . Etas, ed. or. (1964).

Hagen, O. (1995). Risk in utility theory, in business and in the world of fear and hope. In J. Götschl (Ed.), Revolutionary changes in understanding man and society, scopes and limits . Kluwer.

Hardin, R. (1982). Collective action . Johns Hopkins University Press.

Harsanyi, J. C. (1955). Cardinal welfare, individualistic ethics, and interpersonal comparisons of utility. The Journal of Political Economy, 63 (4), 309–321.

Harsanyi, J. C. (1977). Rational behaviour and bargaining equilibrium in games and social situations . Cambridge University Press; trad. it. (1985). Comportamento razionale e equilibrio di contrattazione . Il Saggiatore.

Hindess, B. (1988). Choice, rationality and social theory . Unwin Hyman.

Homans, G. C. (1975). Le forme elementari del comportamento sociale . Franco Angeli, ed. or. (1961).

Israel, G., & Gasca, A. N. (1996). Il mondo come gioco matematico. John von Neumann, scienziato del novecento . Nuova Italia Scientifica.

Jandt, F. E. (1985). Win-win negotiating. Turning conflict into agreement, a paul gillette book . Wiley; trad. it. (1990). Winner contro winner . Franco Angeli.

Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (1979). Prospect theory: An analysis of decision under risk. Econometrica, 47 , 263.

Lévy-Garboua, L., & Blondel, S. (1996). La decision comme argumentation. In R. Boudon, A. Bouvier, & F. Chazel (Eds.), Cognition et sciences sociales . Puf.

Lévy-Garboua, L., & Montmquette, C. (1996). Cognition in seemingly riskless choices and judgments. Rationality and Society, 8 (2), 167–185.

Marwell, G., & Oliver, P. E. (1993). The critical mass in collective action . Cambridge University Press.

Menger, C. (1871). Grundsätze der Volkswirtschaftslehre . W. Braumüller; trad. it. (1967). Principi di economia politica . Utet.

Menger, C. (1883). Untersuchungen über die Methoden der Sozialwissenschaften und der politischen Oekonomie insbesondere . Drunker & Humblot; trad. it. (1937). Il metodo della scienza economica . Utet.

Mills, W. C. (1966). Colletti bianchi . Einaudi, ed. or. (1951).

Nash, J. (1951). Non-cooperative games. Annual of Mathematics, 54 , 286.

Oliver, P. E. (1993). Formal models of collective action. Annual Review of Sociology, 19 , 271–300.

Overbye, E. (1995). Making a case for the rational, self-regarding, ‘ethical’ voter…, and solving the ‘paradox of not voting’ in the process. European Journal of Political Research, 27 , 369–396.

Pareto, V. (1916/1964). Trattato di sociologia generale . Edizioni di Comunità.

Popper, K. R. (1970). Logica della scoperta scientifica . Einaudi, ed. or. (1935).

Popper, K. R. (1972a). Congetture e confutazioni. Lo sviluppo della conoscenza scientifica . Il Mulino, ed. or. (1963).

Popper, K. R. (1972b). Nuvole e orologi . In Idem, Epistemologia, razionalità e libertà . Armando.

Popper, K. R. (1975). Miseria dello storicismo . Feltrinelli, ed. or. (1944–45).

Popper, K. R. (2002). La società aperta e i suoi nemici , trad. it. Antiseri, D. (Ed.), Armando.

Provasi, G. (1987). Il gioco negoziale . Franco Angeli.

Samuelson, P. (1954). The pure theory of public expenditure. Review of Economic Statistic, 36 , 387–389.

Schuessler, A. (2000). Expressive voting. Rationality and Society, 12 (1), 87–119.

Schumpeter, J. A. (1967a). Teoria dello sviluppo economico . Sansoni, ed. or. (1911).

Schumpeter, J. A. (1967b). Capitalismo, socialismo e democrazia . Etas, ed. or. (1942).

Schumpeter, J. A. (1972). Sociologia dell’imperialismo . Laterza, ed. or. (1919).

Schumpeter, J. A. (1977). Il processo capitalistico. I cicli economici . Turin, ed. or. (1939).

Sen, A. K. (1988). Etica ed economia . Laterza, ed. or. (1987).

Simon, H. A. (1984). La ragione nelle vicende umane . Il Mulino, ed. or. (1983).

Smith, A. (1776). An inquiry into the nature and cause of the wealth of the nations. W. Strahan & T. Cadell, trad. it. (1975). La ricchezza delle nazioni. Utet.

Spaventa, L. (1989). La teoria dei giochi e la politica economica . Il Mulino.

von Hayek, F. A. (1967). L’abuso della ragione . Vallecchi.

von Hayek, F. A. (1969). La società libera . Vallecchi, ed. or. (1960).

von Hayek, F. A. (1987). Legge, legislazione e libertà . Il Saggiatore, ed. or. (1973–79).

von Mises, L. (1949). Human action. A treatise on economics . Yale University Press; trad. it. (1959). L’azione umana . Utet.

Von Neuman, J., & Morgenstern, O. (1948). The theory of games and economic behaviour . Princeton University Press.

Weber, M. (1958a). Il metodo delle scienze storico-sociali . Einaudi, ed. or. (1904).

Weber, M. (1958b). Il metodo delle scienze storico-sociali . Einaudi.

Weber, M. (1965a). L’etica protestante e lo spirito del capitalismo . Sansoni, ed. or. (1904–05).

Weber, M. (1965b). L’etica protestante e lo spirito del capitalismo . Sansoni.

Weber, M. (1970). Scritti politici . Giannotta, ed. or. (1921).

Winkler, J. (1981). Bargaining for results . Heinaman; trad. it. (1985). Guida pratica alle tecniche di negoziazione . Franco Angeli.

Wittgenstein, L. (1964). Tractatus logico-philosophicus . Einaudi, ed. or. (1922).

Wittgenstein, L. (1967). Lezioni e conservazioni . Adelphi.

Wittgenstein, L. (1974). Ricerche filosofiche , Einaudi, ed. or. (1953).

Wright Mills, C. (1973). La élite del potere . Feltrinelli.

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Department of Education Science, University of Roma Tre, Rome, Italy

Antonio Cocozza

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter.

Cocozza, A. (2023). The Theory of Rational Choice: Potential and Criticality. In: The Unexpected in Action. Theory and History in the Human and Social Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26793-2_6

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26793-2_6

Published : 22 March 2023

Publisher Name : Springer, Cham

Print ISBN : 978-3-031-26792-5

Online ISBN : 978-3-031-26793-2

eBook Packages : Behavioral Science and Psychology Behavioral Science and Psychology (R0)

Share this chapter

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research

• Subject List
• Take a Tour
• For Authors
• Subscriber Services
• Publications
• African American Studies
• African Studies
• American Literature
• Anthropology
• Architecture Planning and Preservation
• Art History
• Atlantic History
• Biblical Studies
• British and Irish Literature
• Childhood Studies
• Chinese Studies
• Cinema and Media Studies
• Communication

Criminology

• Environmental Science
• Evolutionary Biology
• International Law
• International Relations
• Islamic Studies
• Jewish Studies
• Latin American Studies
• Latino Studies
• Linguistics
• Literary and Critical Theory
• Medieval Studies
• Military History
• Political Science
• Public Health
• Renaissance and Reformation
• Social Work
• Urban Studies
• Victorian Literature
• Browse All Subjects

How to Subscribe

• Free Trials

In This Article Expand or collapse the "in this article" section Rational Choice Theories

Introduction, general overviews.

• Data Sources
• Classical Theory
• Economic Models
• Psychological and Neurobiological Factors
• Routine Activity Theory
• Criminal Decision Making
• Applications of Routine Activity Theory and Rational Choice
• White-Collar Crime

Related Articles Expand or collapse the "related articles" section about

About related articles close popup.

Lorem Ipsum Sit Dolor Amet

Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Aliquam ligula odio, euismod ut aliquam et, vestibulum nec risus. Nulla viverra, arcu et iaculis consequat, justo diam ornare tellus, semper ultrices tellus nunc eu tellus.

• Commercial and Bank Robbery
• Corporate Crime
• Criminological Explanations for Terrorism
• Land Use and Crime
• Offender Decision-Making and Motivation
• Property Crime
• Routine Activity Theories
• Sentencing Policy
• Situational Action Theory
• Social Control Theory

Other Subject Areas

Forthcoming articles expand or collapse the "forthcoming articles" section.

• Education Programs in Prison
• Mixed Methods Research in Criminal Justice and Criminology
• Victim Impact Statements
• Find more forthcoming articles...
• Export Citations
• Share This Facebook LinkedIn Twitter

Rational Choice Theories by John Paul Wright LAST REVIEWED: 27 October 2017 LAST MODIFIED: 14 December 2009 DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780195396607-0007

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. In addition, neuropsychological literature shows that there are neurobiological mechanisms involved in our “rational choices.”

Cornish and Clarke 1986 includes numerous theoretical and empirical essays that describe the process of criminal decision making. Piquero and Tibbetts 2002 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 1993 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 2008 discusses how human decision-making processes are more irrational than rational.

Ariely, Dan. 2008. Predictably irrational: The hidden forces that shape our decisions. New York: HarperCollins.

Covers decision making from a general standpoint. Provides numerous examples of how people’s decisions are often more irrational than rational. In addition, the author discusses how various factors, such as sexual arousal and relativity, shape decision-making processes.

Clarke, Ronald V., and Marcus Felson, eds. 1993. Routine activity and rational choice . New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.

Discusses how rational choice and routine activity theory can be applied to victimology, corporate crime, gun crimes, violent offending, political violence, and kidnapping. The second part of the book discusses how routine activity, opportunity structures, and decision-making processes lead to the commission of specific types of crimes.

Cornish, Derek B., and Ronald V. Clarke, eds. 1986. The reasoning criminal: Rational choice perspectives on offending . New York: Springer-Verlag.

Contains a number of essays that are relevant to decision-making processes regarding crime. In particular, there is a chapter on Cornish and Clarke’s rational choice model, while other chapters discuss theoretical issues regarding rational choice theory. Further, the book includes chapters that empirically evaluate offenders’ decision-making processes for a variety of offenses, such as shoplifting and robbery.

Piquero, Alex R., and Stephen G. Tibbetts, eds. 2002. Rational choice and criminal behavior: Recent research and future challenges . New York: Routledge.

Contains essays regarding the integration of rational choice with traditional criminological theories. In addition, there are chapters that apply rational choice to a host of antisocial behaviors at a theoretical, empirical, and practical level.

back to top

Users without a subscription are not able to see the full content on this page. Please subscribe or login .

Oxford Bibliographies Online is available by subscription and perpetual access to institutions. For more information or to contact an Oxford Sales Representative click here .

• About Criminology »
• Meet the Editorial Board »
• Active Offender Research
• Adler, Freda
• Adversarial System of Justice
• Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Aging Prison Population, The
• Airport and Airline Security
• Alcohol and Drug Prohibition
• Alcohol Use, Policy and Crime
• Alt-Right Gangs and White Power Youth Groups
• Animals, Crimes Against
• Back-End Sentencing and Parole Revocation
• Bail and Pretrial Detention
• Batterer Intervention Programs
• Bentham, Jeremy
• Big Data and Communities and Crime
• Biosocial Criminology
• Black's Theory of Law and Social Control
• Blumstein, Alfred
• Boot Camps and Shock Incarceration Programs
• Burglary, Residential
• Bystander Intervention
• Capital Punishment
• Chambliss, William
• Chicago School of Criminology, The
• Child Maltreatment
• Chinese Triad Society
• Civil Protection Orders
• Collateral Consequences of Felony Conviction and Imprisonm...
• Collective Efficacy
• Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
• Communicating Scientific Findings in the Courtroom
• Community Change and Crime
• Community Corrections
• Community Disadvantage and Crime
• Community-Based Justice Systems
• Community-Based Substance Use Prevention
• Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
• CompStat Models of Police Performance Management
• Confessions, False and Coerced
• Conservation Criminology
• Consumer Fraud
• Contextual Analysis of Crime
• Control Balance Theory
• Convict Criminology
• Co-Offending and the Role of Accomplices
• Costs of Crime and Justice
• Courts, Drug
• Courts, Juvenile
• Courts, Mental Health
• Courts, Problem-Solving
• Crime and Justice in Latin America
• Crime, Campus
• Crime Control Policy
• Crime Control, Politics of
• Crime, (In)Security, and Islam
• Crime Prevention, Delinquency and
• Crime Prevention, Situational
• Crime Prevention, Voluntary Organizations and
• Crime Trends
• Crime Victims' Rights Movement
• Criminal Career Research
• Criminal Decision Making, Emotions in
• Criminal Justice Data Sources
• Criminal Justice Ethics
• Criminal Justice Fines and Fees
• Criminal Justice Reform, Politics of
• Criminal Justice System, Discretion in the
• Criminal Records
• Criminal Retaliation
• Criminal Talk
• Criminology and Political Science
• Criminology of Genocide, The
• Critical Criminology
• Cross-National Crime
• Cross-Sectional Research Designs in Criminology and Crimin...
• Cultural Criminology
• Cultural Theories
• Cybercrime Investigations and Prosecutions
• Cycle of Violence
• Deadly Force
• Defense Counsel
• Defining "Success" in Corrections and Reentry
• Developmental and Life-Course Criminology
• Digital Piracy
• Driving and Traffic Offenses
• Drug Control
• Drug Trafficking, International
• Drugs and Crime
• Elder Abuse
• Electronically Monitored Home Confinement
• Employee Theft
• Environmental Crime and Justice
• Experimental Criminology
• Family Violence
• Fear of Crime and Perceived Risk
• Felon Disenfranchisement
• Feminist Theories
• Feminist Victimization Theories
• Fencing and Stolen Goods Markets
• Firearms and Violence
• Forensic Science
• For-Profit Private Prisons and the Criminal Justice–Indust...
• Gangs, Peers, and Co-offending
• Gender and Crime
• Gendered Crime Pathways
• General Opportunity Victimization Theories
• Genetics, Environment, and Crime
• Green Criminology
• Halfway Houses
• Harm Reduction and Risky Behaviors
• Hate Crime Legislation
• Healthcare Fraud
• Hirschi, Travis
• History of Crime in the United Kingdom
• History of Criminology
• Homelessness and Crime
• Homicide Victimization
• Honor Cultures and Violence
• Hot Spots Policing
• Human Rights
• Human Trafficking
• Identity Theft
• Immigration, Crime, and Justice
• Incarceration, Mass
• Incarceration, Public Health Effects of
• Income Tax Evasion
• Indigenous Criminology
• Institutional Anomie Theory
• Integrated Theory
• Intermediate Sanctions
• Interpersonal Violence, Historical Patterns of
• Interrogation
• Intimate Partner Violence, Criminological Perspectives on
• Intimate Partner Violence, Police Responses to
• Investigation, Criminal
• Juvenile Delinquency
• Juvenile Justice System, The
• Kornhauser, Ruth Rosner
• Labeling Theory
• Labor Markets and Crime
• Lead and Crime
• LGBTQ Intimate Partner Violence
• LGBTQ People in Prison
• Life Without Parole Sentencing
• Local Institutions and Neighborhood Crime
• Lombroso, Cesare
• Longitudinal Research in Criminology
• Mandatory Minimum Sentencing
• Mapping and Spatial Analysis of Crime, The
• Mass Media, Crime, and Justice
• Measuring Crime
• Mediation and Dispute Resolution Programs
• Mental Health and Crime
• Merton, Robert K.
• Meta-analysis in Criminology
• Middle-Class Crime and Criminality
• Migrant Detention and Incarceration
• Mixed Methods Research in Criminology
• Money Laundering
• Motor Vehicle Theft
• Multi-Level Marketing Scams
• Murder, Serial
• Narrative Criminology
• National Deviancy Symposia, The
• Nature Versus Nurture
• Neighborhood Disorder
• Neutralization Theory
• New Penology, The
• Offense Specialization/Expertise
• Organized Crime
• Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs
• Panel Methods in Criminology
• Peacemaking Criminology
• Peer Networks and Delinquency
• Performance Measurement and Accountability Systems
• Personality and Trait Theories of Crime
• Persons with a Mental Illness, Police Encounters with
• Phenomenological Theories of Crime
• Plea Bargaining
• Police Administration
• Police Cooperation, International
• Police Discretion
• Police Effectiveness
• Police History
• Police Militarization
• Police Misconduct
• Police, Race and the
• Police Use of Force
• Police, Violence against the
• Policing and Law Enforcement
• Policing, Body-Worn Cameras and
• Policing, Broken Windows
• Policing, Community and Problem-Oriented
• Policing Cybercrime
• Policing, Evidence-Based
• Policing, Intelligence-Led
• Policing, Privatization of
• Policing, Proactive
• Policing, School
• Policing, Stop-and-Frisk
• Policing, Third Party
• Polyvictimization
• Positivist Criminology
• Pretrial Detention, Alternatives to
• Pretrial Diversion
• Prison Administration
• Prison Classification
• Prison, Disciplinary Segregation in
• Prison Education Exchange Programs
• Prison Gangs and Subculture
• Prison History
• Prison Labor
• Prison Visitation
• Prisoner Reentry
• Prisons and Jails
• Prisons, HIV in
• Private Security
• Probation Revocation
• Procedural Justice
• Prosecution and Courts
• Prostitution
• Psychiatry, Psychology, and Crime: Historical and Current ...
• Psychology and Crime
• Public Criminology
• Public Opinion, Crime and Justice
• Public Order Crimes
• Public Social Control and Neighborhood Crime
• Punishment Justification and Goals
• Qualitative Methods in Criminology
• Queer Criminology
• Race and Sentencing Research Advancements
• Race, Ethnicity, Crime, and Justice
• Racial Threat Hypothesis
• Racial Profiling
• Rape and Sexual Assault
• Rape, Fear of
• Rational Choice Theories
• Rehabilitation
• Religion and Crime
• Restorative Justice
• Risk Assessment
• School Bullying
• School Crime and Violence
• School Safety, Security, and Discipline
• Search Warrants
• Seasonality and Crime
• Self-Control, The General Theory:
• Self-Report Crime Surveys
• Sentencing Enhancements
• Sentencing, Evidence-Based
• Sentencing Guidelines
• Sex Offender Policies and Legislation
• Sex Trafficking
• Sexual Revictimization
• Snitching and Use of Criminal Informants
• Social and Intellectual Context of Criminology, The
• Social Construction of Crime, The
• Social Control of Tobacco Use
• Social Disorganization
• Social Ecology of Crime
• Social Learning Theory
• Social Networks
• Social Threat and Social Control
• Solitary Confinement
• South Africa, Crime and Justice in
• Sport Mega-Events Security
• Stalking and Harassment
• State Crime
• State Dependence and Population Heterogeneity in Theories ...
• Strain Theories
• Street Code
• Street Robbery
• Substance Use and Abuse
• Surveillance, Public and Private
• Sutherland, Edwin H.
• Technology and the Criminal Justice System
• Technology, Criminal Use of
• Terrorism and Hate Crime
• Terrorism, Criminological Explanations for
• Testimony, Eyewitness
• Therapeutic Jurisprudence
• Trajectory Methods in Criminology
• Transnational Crime
• Truth-In-Sentencing
• Urban Politics and Crime
• US War on Terrorism, Legal Perspectives on the
• Victimization, Adolescent
• Victimization, Biosocial Theories of
• Victimization Patterns and Trends
• Victimization, Repeat
• Victimization, Vicarious and Related Forms of Secondary Tr...
• Victimless Crime
• Victim-Offender Overlap, The
• Violence Against Women
• Violence, Youth
• Violent Crime
• White-Collar Crime, The Global Financial Crisis and
• White-Collar Crime, Women and
• Wilson, James Q.
• Wolfgang, Marvin
• Women, Girls, and Reentry
• Wrongful Conviction
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Legal Notice
• Accessibility

Powered by:

• [66.249.64.20|162.248.224.4]
• 162.248.224.4

• Marijuana Legislation Essays

Rational Choice Theory Essay

Rational choice theory postulates that individuals make decisions that they think will best advance their self interest, even though this is not usually the case. It is based on the premise that human being is a rational being, and freely chooses their behavior, both conforming and deviant, rationally. That is, to make a decision, it involves a cost benefit analysis. It is an approach that is widely employed by social scientists to understand the human behavior, based on the effect of incentives and constraints on the human behavior. This approach was widely originally a reserve of economics but it has found general acceptance in other disciplines. This paper examines critically the rational choice theory, and its relationship to the situational crime prevention. It traces the history of the theory, and applies the theory to a contemporary problem, the cultivation of marijuana, to explain how cultivation sites are chosen. The paper finally makes recommendations how the theory can be employed to reduce outdoor marijuana cultivation.

Struggling with your HW?

Get your assignments done by real pros. Save your precious time and boost your marks with ease. Just fill in your HW requirements and you can count on us!

• Customer data protection
• 100% Plagiarism Free

In criminology, it is employed to explain the criminal behavior. It assumes that the state is responsible for the maintenance of order and for preserving the common good through legislation. The laws controls human behavior through swiftness, severity and certainty of punishments (Phillips, 2011,7).The theory consists of 3 core elements: a reasoning criminal, crime specific focus and separate analysis of criminal involvement and criminal event (Phillips, 2011, 4). The reasoning criminal element postulates that criminals commit crimes in order to benefit themselves. The element proposes that criminals have specific goals and alternative ways to achieve these goals. In addition, they hold information that assists them in choosing the best alternative to implement their goals.

The element on crime specific focus, assumes that decision making differs with the nature of crime, that is, decision making is different for each crime. For instance, the decision making to commit a robbery differs with the decision making to commit burglaries, while the decision making by a burglar to target wealthy neighborhood, differs with the one to target middle class and public housing.

The last element addresses three issues: deciding to get involved in a crime, continuing to get involved once one has decided to get involved, and the decision to withdraw from the commission of the crime. On the other hand, criminal event implies the decision to get involved with a specific crime.

Used our essay samples for inspiration ?

For more help, tap into our pool of professional writers and get expert essay editing services!

Crime prevention is critical, since it is too expensive to wait until crimes have been committed in order to act. Traditionally, criminologists approach crime prevention through identification of the social and psychological and social causes of crime and treating the offenders as a remedy to the deficiencies, examples through correctional measures. An alternative to the above is situational crime prevention that is based on the rational choice theory. It based on the assumption that criminals will proceed to commit crimes where the benefits outweigh the risks and costs involved and whereby the opportunity to commit a crime exists. Therefore, situational crime prevention aims to make the costs of a crime outweigh the benefits derived, and eliminate the opportunity to c omit that crime.

This theory has deep roots in economic, and has made important inroads in other spheres. Rational choice theory first emerged in the mid-eighteenth century, and was first referred to as classical theory. It was developed by the classical school of criminology, through the works of Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham, in their response to primitive and cruel justice system that existed prior to the advent of the French revolution.

The modern theory stems from the age of reason. It is classical origins is captured in Leviathan (1651) by Thomas Hobbes, where he tried to explain the role of individuals choices in functioning of political institutions. His efforts were developed further by other scholars such as Adam Smith, David Hume and utilitarians such as Jeremy BenthamThe rational choice theory was developed by Derek Cornish and Ronald Clarke.

In relation to outdoor marijuana cultivation, rational choice theory is conspicuous. The predicaments that face outdoor cannabis growers are the same one that faces other criminals. Therefore, they employ the rational choice theory like other criminals in examining whether to grow cannabis and if yes, where. The growers are rational beings, driven by rational theory’s key tenets. For instance, the growers choose locations that have the greatest potential for a greater reward, pursuant to the rational choice theory of maximum greatest benefit.

To begin with, the choice of outdoor cultivation is informed by the fact that it has a lower cost of production. Consequently, they choose locations whereby they maximize their rewards, while minimizing their efforts. While doing this, they consider the risk that the site will be detected by the law enforcement officers. Therefore, they have to choose a site that will not only give the maximum yield, but also one that cannot be easily detected.

To add, the rational choice theory applies where the grower decides the number of plants to grow in the selected site. Here also, the grower has to weigh the benefit derived by an extra plant grown versus the increased risk of detection by the law enforcement officers. Growers gamble with the number, but only to a certain extent, and the location of the site. Therefore, the numbers are likely to be high in prime sites where the risk of detection is low. To add, the finding of a research by Bouchard et al (2011,16) concludes that even in areas where aerial detection is less common, even if the risk of detection is perceived as nontrivial, offenders are willing to take a chance in the event of a successful outcome.

Moreover, growers have several sites among which to choose from. Like other rational beings, they also possess information, which helps them with choosing among the alternatives. For instance, they know areas where the yields are likely to be high, that is, areas whose topography and climate, suits the growth of marijuana, and areas that are prone to detection by law enforcement agencies. On the other hand, law enforcers also employ the theory to increase the detection of outdoor growers and, therefore, curb growth of cannabis while at the same time reducing the benefits and increasing the costs in order to deter growers.

Rational choice theory explains to a certain extent why growers choose certain sites to grow cannabis. The site must be weighed against other competing interests in order to arrive at the site that gives the maximum yield at the least cost. To begin with, a rational grower gathers information about possible sites and chooses the best alternative based on the information that is available.

According to Bouchard et al (2011,23), such information involves the distance from the road, distance from sources of water, nature of the terrain and security of the region generally. For instance, with regards to proximity to the nearest road, the longer the site is from the road, the greater the effort required to set up the site and to take care of the plants, while the closer the sites to the road, the greater the risks of detection, by both the law enforcers as well as thieves. To add, with regards to the accessibility of the areas, the growers have to consider the easiness of access and exit from the area.

Moreover, the growers have to rationally decide the number of cannabis plants to grow in a certain site. While it would be more profitable to grow the maximum yield, rational choice theory requires that they should balance the number of plants, with the desire to hide the site from the law enforcement officers.

Situational crime prevention techniques can be employed in a number of ways to curb outdoor growth of marijuana, through increasing the risk, reducing the reward, increasing the effort of the growers, and reducing the provocation that is associated with specific criminal events. Risk can be increased through increasing and coordinating the anti-marijuana growth operations efforts across police agencies. This would increase the level of detection, and, therefore, the growers will materially decrease production of marijuana, for example by growing lesser plants to reduce the risk of detection.

With regards to decreasing the rewards, all international law enforcement stakeholders should work hand in hand to reduce the opportunities for production, trafficking and sale of marijuana. This shall affect the market of marijuana, while making it more difficult to produce and traffic marijuana, and, therefore, reduce the rewards while increasing the costs. Finally, the penalties for production and possession of marijuana should, to a large extent, be made severe in order to deter the users, producers and traffickers.

In conclusion, therefore, rational choice theory has wide applicability in criminology, especially in situational crime prevention. It explains why the criminals act the way they do, and consequently, the law enforcers can employ the theory to detect and prevent the crime before it happens.

Bouchard, M. Beauregard, E. and Kalacska, M. (2011). Journey to grow: Linking process to

outcome in target site selection for cannabis cultivation. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency.

Clarke, R. V. (2010). Situational crime prevention. In Bradley R. E. Wright and Ralph B.

McNeal Jr. (eds.), Boundaries: Readings in deviance, crime and criminal justice. Boston:Pearson Custom Publishing.

Sacco, V. F. and Kennedy, L. W. (2011). The criminal event: An introduction to criminology in Canada 5th ed. Toronto: Nelson Education, pp. 128-131, 195-198, and 370-375.

Phillips, C.(2011). Situational crime Prevention and crime Displacement: Myths and miracles? Internet Journal of Criminology.

Related Essays

Find Free Essays

We provide you with original essay samples, perfect formatting and styling

Request must contain at least 2 characters

Popular Topics

Samples by Essay Type

Cite this page

About our services

Topic Marijuana Legislation

Level Masters

This sample is NOT ORIGINAL. Get 100% unique essay written under your req

• Only $11 per page
• Free revisions included

Studyfy uses cookies to deliver the best experience possible. Read more.

Studyfy uses secured cookies. Read more.

• Homework Help
• Essay Examples
• Citation Generator
• Writing Guides
• Essay Title Generator
• Essay Topic Generator
• Essay Outline Generator
• Flashcard Generator
• Plagiarism Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Conclusion Generator
• Thesis Statement Generator
• Introduction Generator
• Literature Review Generator
• Hypothesis Generator
• Rational Choice Theory Essays

Rational Choice Theory Essays (Examples)

623+ documents containing “rational choice theory” .

Filter by Keywords:(add comma between each)

Rational choice theory as mis applied to consumer.

ational Choice Theory as (Mis)Applied to Consumer Spending and Decision-Making: Implications for Management The recent economic downturn seems to have been precipitated by a series of bad decisions made by consumers -- at the encouragement of opportunistic loan officers and organizations that ought to have known better and in many instances probably did -- in selecting loan products that they could not afford. While many companies and individuals walked away from the sudden fallout in the credit market wit great sums of cash, those that had purchased securities backed by bundled mortgages found themselves with virtually worthless assets, and the entire credit market crumbled. It would seem that somewhere along the line, a great number of people made choices-based either on faulty and perhaps even deliberately misleading information or an abysmal lack of foresight -- and often perhaps both. This calls into question of the dominant theories regarding consumer choice and economic….

Huebsch, R. (2010). The meaning of rational choice theory. Demand Media. Accessed 24 November 2010.  http://smallbusiness.chron.com/meaning-rational-choice-theory-5210.html 

Jacoby, J. (2000). Is it Rational to Assume Consumer Rationality? Some Consumer Psychological Perspectives on Rational Choice Theory. NYU, Center for Law and Business Research, Paper No. 00-09. Accessed 24 November 2010.  http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=239538 

Miller, S., Hickson, D. & Wilson, D. (1996). Decision making in organizations. In Handbook of organizational studies, S. Clegg et al., eds. Thousan Oaks, CA: Sage.

Scott, J. (2000). Rational choice theory. In Understanding Contemporary Society: Theories of The Present, G. Browning, A. Halcli, and F. Webster, eds. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Rational Choice Theory A Response With the

ational Choice Theory: A esponse With the exception of those who happen to be mentally ill, most people exhibit a rational mode of thinking. That means that before choosing a course of action, most individuals take into consideration all the relevant variables and only act if it is reasonable to do so. According to the rational choice theory, most of those who break the law are rational thinking persons who are more likely than not to make calculated choices prior to committing a crime. As Siegel (2010, p. 85), points out, "before choosing to commit a crime, reasoning criminals carefully select targets, and their behavior is systematic and selective." An individual is hence less likely to commit a crime if chances of detection and/or apprehension are particularly high. This effectively means that any sane law breaker carefully considers the costs and benefits of each alternative before settling on that course of action….

Hakim, S. & Blackstone, E.A. (1997). Securing Home and Business: A Guide to the Electronic Security Industry. Newton, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Siegel, L.J. (2010). Criminology: The Core (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.

Restoring Order through Rational Choice

Rational Choice Theory and an Example of How It Applies Introduction When it comes to explaining disorder in neighborhoods and communities, there are many theories that can be applied. Broken Windows Theory, for example, posited that crime comes to communities when community members allow their neighborhood to get rundown and fail to clean up graffiti, litter or abandoned buildings. Another theory, which this paper will examine, is the theory of rational choice, which can be used to explain how and why people make decisions in their lives and in their communities that have an impact on the order in the neighborhood. This paper will discuss how rational theory can be applied to the neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine in downtown Cincinnati, which has attracted a great deal of attention from city planners and community organizers over the past century due to its historic landmarks and character and the need for the area to be….

Benefits of Humility among Public Leaders

Chapter OneIntroductionOverviewThis chapter provides an overview of the research problem and presents the research questions and objectives. It also discusses the significance of the study and provides a brief description of the methodology that will be used. Finally, it provides research questions that will guide this study as well as definitions that will help to clarify terms.BackgroundEthical leadership is a critical topic in todays organizations, given the increasing complexity of the business environment and the growing expectations of stakeholders. The consequences of unethical leadership can be severe, including reputational damage, legal penalties, and financial losses. Recent evidence suggests that ethical leadership is critical for organizational success and that this is true across cultures (Sarwar et al., 2020; Zaim et al., 2021).The concept of ethical leadership has been widely discussed in the literature over the last few decades. Scholars have explored various aspects of ethical leadership, including its definition, antecedents, and….

Acharya, A. (2020). The myth of the “civilization state”: Rising powers and the cultural challenge to world order. Ethics & International Affairs, 34(2), 139-156.

Ali, M., Li, Z., Haider, M., Khan, S., & Mohi Ud Din, Q. (2021). Does humility of project manager affect project success? Confirmation of moderated mediation mechanism. Management Research Review, 44(9), 1320-1341.

Brennan, G., & Brooks, M. (2014). Rational choice approaches to leadership. RAW Rhodes & P.’t Hart (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Political Leadership, 161-175.

Narcissism and the Dark'side of Leadership

Leadership Traits: Annotated Bibliography and ThesisThesis statement: Humility is the necessary foundation for effective leadership for Christians in public leadership. In this paper, I will argue that traits such as integrity, authenticity, communication skills, adaptability, and emotional intelligence are complementary for effective leadership, while traits like narcissism and remoteness are not desirable for Christians in public leadership. Additionally, positive traits like the ones discussed here can positively influence decision-making through the lens of the Rational Actor or Rational Choice models, while negative traits can negatively influence decision-making.Annotated BibliographyBrennan, G., & Brooks, M. (2014). Rational choice approaches to leadership.RAW Rhodes &P.t Hart (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Political Leadership, 161-175.This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of rational choice approaches to leadership. The authors examine the assumptions, methodologies, and theoretical frameworks that underpin the rational choice approach to leadership. They also provide a critical analysis of the strengths and limitations of this….

Rational Choice Theory and Leadership

Leadership Traits: The ole of Humility in Effective Leadership for Christians in Public LeadershipIntroductionEffective leadership is crucial for the success of any organization or community. In the context of public leadership, Christian leaders are called to serve others with humility and prioritize the interests of others over personal gain. This paper argues that humility is the necessary foundation for effective leadership for Christians in public leadership. While traits such as integrity, authenticity, communication skills, adaptability, and emotional intelligence are complementary for effective leadership, traits like narcissism and remoteness are not desirable for Christian leaders in public leadership. Positive traits can positively influence decision-making through the lens of the ational Actor or ational Choice models, while negative traits can negatively influence decision-making.ational ChoiceThe rational choice approach is a useful framework for understanding leadership decision-making in complex situations, as it assumes that individuals make decisions based on rational calculations that maximize their….

ReferencesBrennan, G., & Brooks, M. (2014). Rational choice approaches to leadership. RAW Rhodes & P.’t Hart (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Political Leadership, 161-175.Irving, J. A., & Strauss, M. L. (2019). Leadership in Christian perspective: Biblical foundations and contemporary practices for servant leaders. Baker Academic.Malphurs, A. (2003). Being leaders: The nature of authentic Christian leadership. Baker Books.McIntosh, G. L., & Samuel Sr, D. (2007). Overcoming the dark side of leadership: How to become an effective leader by confronting potential failures. Baker Books.Morris, J. A., Brotheridge, C. M., & Urbanski, J. C. (2005). Bringing humility to leadership: Antecedents and consequences of leader humility. Human relations, 58(10), 1323-1350.Newstead, T., Dawkins, S., Macklin, R., & Martin, A. (2021). We don\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t need more leaders–We need more good leaders. Advancing a virtues-based approach to leader (ship) development. The Leadership Quarterly, 32(5), 101312.Rueda, D. (2021). Is populism a political strategy? A critique of an enduring approach. Political studies, 69(2), 167-184.Sindane, A. M. (2011). Values and ethics enter the real world: a framework for public leadership and governance. Koers: Bulletin for Christian Scholarship= Koers: Bulletin vir Christelike Wetenskap, 76(4), 751-769.Stein, M. (2013). When does narcissistic leadership become problematic? Dick Fuld at Lehman Brothers. Journal of Management Inquiry, 22(3), 282-293.Stowell, J. M. (2014). Redefining leadership: Character-driven habits of effective leaders. Zondervan.Van Dierendonck, D. (2011). Servant leadership: A review and synthesis. Journal of management, 37(4), 1228-1261.Zyuzev, N. (2022). Altruism and rational choice theory. The American Sociologist, 53(1), 44-52.

Rational Theory and Charlotte NC

It is methodological individualism which makes up the group, creating problems for the ational Theories which tout individualism as the driving force in motivation. Some say that the actions of individuals results in an unintended consequence when done in a group (Scott, p. 30). If you look long enough for the secret of society you will find it in plain sight: the secret of society is that it was made by men, and there is nothing in society but what men put there'" (Homans, p. 385). Captain David Poston, head of the CMPD Property Crimes Unit, who spoke to the problem of this rash of burglaries within the metropolitan area in November, 2007, said that "while citywide, burglaries were down nearly 5% last year compared to 2006, we have seen an increase in the past couple of weeks" (Charlotte, p. 1). He admits that over the month preceding, detectives saw a pattern to….

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Dept. (2008). Recent spike in home break-ins: suspects & Methods. Crime in Charlotte, NC. Retrieved January 26, 2008 at  http://www.crimeincharlotte.com/ .

Homans, G. (1961). Social Behaviour: Its Elementary Forms. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.

Scott, John. (2000). Rational Choice Theory. Understanding Contemporary Society: Theories of the Present, Boston: Sage Publications.

Theory and Its Evaluation

Theoretical Evaluation Theory Evaluation The initial modern clarification of crime is known as "classical hypothesis" (Cullen and Agnew 2011). This hypothesis was produced in response to the malefic, irrational, and barbaric frameworks of criminal equity that existed in Europe in the 1700s. The laws were frequently arbitrary; judges were corrupt; penal awards for the same wrongdoing varied broadly; and disciplines were at times very cruel, causative of extreme physical abuse and often resulting in death. Classical Theorists needed to supplant the framework with one that was more viable and just. They contended that individuals are balanced creatures who seek after their own particular pursuits, endeavoring to amplify their pleasure and minimize their unhappiness. Individuals decide to indulge in wrongdoing when they accept that it will bring more joy than agony, As such, the most ideal approach to control wrongdoing is to guarantee that the torment of penal awards exceeds the delight gained….

Cullen, F.T., and Agnew, R. (2011). Criminological Theory: Past to Present. Los Angeles: Roxbury. [An overview of the leading theories of crime, with selections from the original works.]

Seeking the Ramifications in Cognitive Theory

Criminology Application of Schools of Criminal Thought Within the classical school of thought (rational choice framework from economics), the charges against the perpetrator would be considered both logical and effective. Under classical thought, criminology holds that punishment is an effective deterrent to crime, and that punishment should be rationally aligned with the severity of the crime. The positivist school of thought (functionalist or biological, psychological, and sociological framework) would consider the crime and the punishment against a background of social and genetic influence. Within positivist criminology, the offender is viewed as having a flawed personality and character, brought about by significant deprivations during impressionable years, and that may at least be ameliorated through integrated therapies and treatment. The neo-classical school of thought (empiricism framework) considers crime -- and makes and implements policy -- through a rationalist, scientific, and evidence-based lens. Theoretical Criminology Frameworks Social bonding theory. Social bonding theory stems from observations of….

Rationalist Theories of International Relations Despite the

Rationalist Theories of International Relations Despite the name, rationalist theories of international relations are anything but, limited as they are by both an almost childlike understanding of human behavior and a catastrophic lack of imagination. Rationalist theories of international relations, like the Objectivism which developed in the same post-orld ar II period, rely on a number of assumptions which have since been shown to be empirically false. Rationalism assumes that the most important, and in fact, the only entities dictating international relations are nation states, and that these nation states are engaged in a zero-sum game of diplomacy and war, in which the goals of every nation state is eventual dominance above all others, so that international relations are dictated almost exclusively through violence or coercion, with diplomacy essentially reduced to the well-spoken threat of force. Thus, rationalist theories of international relations are not only incorrect, but altogether dangerous, as they….

Works Cited

Art, Robert, and Kenneth Waltz. The use of force: military power and international politics.

Lanham: Rowan and Littlefield Publishers, 2009.

Baylis, John, Steve Smith, and Patricia Owens. The globalization of world politics: an introduction to international relations. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.

Blatter, Joachim. "Performing Symbolic Politics and International Environmental Regulation:

Criminal Theory

Criminology The case of former colonel ussell Williams offers insight into the psychology of criminal behavior. Williams's confession interview was released to the public and aired on The Fifth Estate, offering criminologists, sociologists, psychologists, and law enforcement officials unique access to the mind of a criminal. Analysts interviewed for The Fifth Estate documentary note that Williams presents a conundrum for psychologists and criminologists, as his reactions to the police interview did not fit any previously known profile, such as that of a psychopath. Williams exhibits traits that resemble psychopathic behavior, in accordance with individual trait theory. For instance, he meticulously recorded his crimes and kept the photographic and video imagery as souvenir mementos. Yet Williams also denies his right to an attorney, permits a foot imprint of his incriminating boots, and also states in the interview that he "was hoping" that he would not have raped or killed again had he not….

"Dr. John Bradford won't work Magnotta case because of PTSD," (2014). CBC. Mar 13, 2014. Retrieved online:  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/dr-john-bradford-won-t-work-magnotta-case-because-of-ptsd-1.2571463 

Fifth Estate (2010). The Confession. [Video documentary].

Friscolanti, M. (2014). Russell Williams's wife knew he was a predator: victim. Maclean's. Retrieved online:  http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/russell-williamss-wife-knew-he-was-a-predator-victim/ 

La Salle, L. (2013). Colonel Russell Williams where have you been? I've been to London to fly the queen and back to collect artifacts. All Things Crime. Dec 11, 2013. Retrieved online:  http://www.allthingscrimeblog.com/2013/12/11/colonel-russell-williams-where-have-you-been-ive-been-to-london-to-fly-the-queen-and-back-to-collect-artifacts/

Law Enforcement and Theories of Crime and Criminals

Schools of Criminology Schools of Thought Classical School introduction: This approach to criminology holds that basically, people will do things based on whether it is helpful to them and they will look after their own self-interest first. In other words, if a person is penniless and hungry, he will steal food because it is in his own self-interest to eat and stay alive, notwithstanding his crime Classical School summary: In the 18th century philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that existing theories of crime (God or the devil determine what humans will do) were not relevant. They put forth the alternative idea that because humans have free will, they choose which behavior they will follow. Most humans respond to pleasure and pain, and if crime brings a person pleasure, that's what he will do; but being hungry can bring pain so a person will commit a crime to avoid hunger. The….

Gul, S.K. (2009). An Evaluation of the Rational Choice Theory in Criminology. Sociology & Applied Science, 4(8), 36-44.

Tibbetts, S.G., and Hemmens, C. (2009). Criminology Theory: A Text/Reader. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

Vito, G., and Maahs, J. (2011). Criminology: Theory, Research, and Policy. Burlington, MA:

Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Application of Criminology Theories Sociology

theoretical concepts from parts XII and XIII to the events and actors at the Malheur Wildlife efuge occupation. Be sure to utilize the different sections in your application. Environmental criminology often focuses on opportunity theory, which is linked with rational choice theory. Opportunity theory suggests that criminal behavior is motivated or prompted by available opportunities to commit the crime. Although the Malheur occupiers were not environmental criminals in the traditional sense of being motivated also by an environmentalist agenda with related ecological goals, the Malheur Wildlife efuge is a nature preserve. There are also compounding issues related to territoriality, the "extent to which a space conveys a sense of being 'owned' or 'private' and has having clearly designated purposes," (XII, p. 459). Territoriality has been a primary driving factor in the occupation. The occupiers, spearheaded by Ammon Bundy and the Hammond brothers "sought to turn the refuge into a symbol….

Bernton, Hal. "Birds -- and staff -- return to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge." Seattle Times. 27 March, 2016. Retrieved online:  http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/northwest/birds-and-staff-return-to-malheur-national-wildlife-refuge/ 

Carpenter, Zoe. "Inside the Bundy Brothers' Armed Occupation." The Nation. Jan 5, 2016. Retrieved online:  http://www.thenation.com/article/inside-the-malheur-wildlife-refuge-occupation/

Social Theories of Crime Social

ational choice theory can in fact encompass the other two previously mentioned theories of criminal behavior due to the fact that acting rational may include conflicting with common culture or joining the neighborhood gang to eventually escape the ghetto. Conclusions Of all the theories of criminal behavior studied so far, rational choice theory is the most applicable to the current state of society in my opinion. Much too often criminals are often dismissed for their faults, when in actuality they are truly acting rational and within their known boundaries of experience. Blanket laws do little good when examining them under this theory. Followers of rational choice theory would agree that changes within the criminal justice system should be made to expose the relative circumstances surrounding each case and not assuming that common punishments meet the required solution for the problem. Warner tended to agree: "building stronger communities will require not only….

Kurbin (nd). "Sociological Theories of Criminal Behavior II."

Warner, B. (2003). The role of attenuated culture in social disorganization theory. Criminology, 41(1), 73 -- 98.

Analyzing Criminology Classical Theory

Criminology Classical theory elucidates crime as a creation and outcome of beliefs that advantages of committing crimes are extremely greater than normative, socially acceptable behavior. The foundation of this school of thought on criminology is that crime is a rational choice and that many individuals have the capacity to resort to crime. In addition, individuals will commit crime subsequent to the comparison of prospective advantages and disadvantages of such actions. The positivist school of criminology tries to ascribe crime causation to understood, contemplative assertion of advantages that criminal activities carry. Next, sociological school of criminology asserts that crime comes about due to manifold factors that can be split into mental, biological, and social factors. Therefore, it implies that crime is a result of social factors and elements that influence the behavior of human beings. eek 2 Discussion Siegel delineates the three different ways crime is recorded in our country. The first method is….

Boston University Metropolitan College. Reintegrative Shaming & Restorative Justice, 2016. Web. Retrieved:  https://learn.bu.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1942479-dt-content-rid-6162758_1/courses/14sprgmetcj602_ol/week06/metcj602_W06L01T04_Reintegrative.html 

Criminal Justice. Similarities and Differences Between Social Control Theories and Other Major Theories of Crime. Social Control Theory, 2016. Web. Retrieved  http://criminal-justice.iresearchnet.com/criminology/theories/social-control-theory/7/ 

Mongold, Jennifer L., and Bradley D. Edwards. "Reintegrative Shaming: Theory into Practice." Journal of Theoretical & Philosophical Criminology 6.3 (2014): 205.

Podgor, Ellen S. "The challenge of white collar sentencing." The Journal of criminal law and criminology (2007): 731-759.

can you explain the rational choice theory

Rational choice theory is an economic principle that assumes individuals make decisions based on rational calculations aimed at maximizing their benefits or utility. This theory suggests that individuals weigh the costs and benefits of various choices and select the option that offers the greatest payoff. Rational choice theory is based on the idea that individuals are rational actors who make decisions based on self-interest and the information available to them. This theory is often used to explain various behaviors, such as consumer choices, voting decisions, and criminal behavior. Overall, rational choice theory provides a framework for understanding how individuals make decisions....

Rational Choice Theory Rational choice theory, a prominent sociological perspective, posits that individuals make decisions and engage in behaviors based on careful calculation and rational evaluation of potential outcomes. This theory emphasizes the role of individual agency, rationality, and utility maximization in understanding human behavior. Key Assumptions: Individuals are rational: They possess the cognitive abilities to make informed decisions and calculate the potential costs and benefits of various actions. Individuals are utility-maximizers: They strive to choose actions that will yield the greatest benefit or satisfaction. Individuals act in their own self-interest: They prioritize their own goals and desires when making decisions. Individuals....

ational Choice Theory as (Mis)Applied to Consumer Spending and Decision-Making: Implications for Management The recent economic downturn seems to have been precipitated by a series of bad decisions made by…

Criminal Justice

ational Choice Theory: A esponse With the exception of those who happen to be mentally ill, most people exhibit a rational mode of thinking. That means that before choosing a…

Research Paper

Rational Choice Theory and an Example of How It Applies Introduction When it comes to explaining disorder in neighborhoods and communities, there are many theories that can be applied. Broken Windows…

Chapter OneIntroductionOverviewThis chapter provides an overview of the research problem and presents the research questions and objectives. It also discusses the significance of the study and provides a brief…

Annotated Bibliography

Leadership Traits: Annotated Bibliography and ThesisThesis statement: Humility is the necessary foundation for effective leadership for Christians in public leadership. In this paper, I will argue that traits such…

Leadership Traits: The ole of Humility in Effective Leadership for Christians in Public LeadershipIntroductionEffective leadership is crucial for the success of any organization or community. In the context of…

It is methodological individualism which makes up the group, creating problems for the ational Theories which tout individualism as the driving force in motivation. Some say that the actions…

Theoretical Evaluation Theory Evaluation The initial modern clarification of crime is known as "classical hypothesis" (Cullen and Agnew 2011). This hypothesis was produced in response to the malefic, irrational, and barbaric…

Criminology Application of Schools of Criminal Thought Within the classical school of thought (rational choice framework from economics), the charges against the perpetrator would be considered both logical and effective.…

Rationalist Theories of International Relations Despite the name, rationalist theories of international relations are anything but, limited as they are by both an almost childlike understanding of human behavior and…

Criminology The case of former colonel ussell Williams offers insight into the psychology of criminal behavior. Williams's confession interview was released to the public and aired on The Fifth Estate,…

Schools of Criminology Schools of Thought Classical School introduction: This approach to criminology holds that basically, people will do things based on whether it is helpful to them and they will…

theoretical concepts from parts XII and XIII to the events and actors at the Malheur Wildlife efuge occupation. Be sure to utilize the different sections in your application. Environmental…

ational choice theory can in fact encompass the other two previously mentioned theories of criminal behavior due to the fact that acting rational may include conflicting with common…

Criminology Classical theory elucidates crime as a creation and outcome of beliefs that advantages of committing crimes are extremely greater than normative, socially acceptable behavior. The foundation of this school…