Chapter 11 / Crime Choice Theory Flashcards
choice theory
The framework for understanding how decisions are made by individuals by weighing the perceived costs and benefits of the action.
rational choice theory
A modern version of Classical School thinking originating in economics; it assumes that humans are rational and have free will, and that offenders make conscious choices to commit crime, based on a cost - benefit analysis.
bounded rationality (limited rationality)
Decisions are often made imperfect as best guesses given available information and time constraints. Decisions are “bounded
by the limits of our knowledge and circumstances, and so our rationality is bounded.
utility maximization
Choices are made based on what one perceives will provide the greatest rewards for the lowest costs.
script
The steps in decision making and the sequence of actions for a particular criminal event.
routine activity theory
Felson’s theory that everyday routines and legitimate activities are key determinants of crime opportunities.
crime pattern theory
A theory that helps explain how crime patterns arise; it asserts that crime is not random. Its concepts (e.g., nodes, paths, and edges) describe how offenders move in the urban environment.
crime opportunity theory
An umbrella term for the set of theories and concepts that are underpinned by the notion that the level of crime opportunities is the main cause of crime.
dispositional theory
Theories that seek to explain variations between individuals in their tendency or disposition to commit crime. Explanations are usually biological or psychological.
situational crime prevention (SCP)
Measures taken to reduce crime opportunities. SCP takes into account the nature of the crime, the environmental factors that allow for the crime, and the risks and rewards associated with crime.
designing-out
The concept that crime prevention can start at the design process so that products and places are deigned with potential criminal threats or opportunities in mind.
environmental criminology
A term coined by C. Ray Jeffery; it focuses on the environment (including targets, guardians, and places) as a key area of interest in understanding how and why crime occurs.
