Week Nine - Rational Choice Flashcards
Connections between two psychological theories…
Connections between Rational Choice and Learning Theories - emphasis in learning theories of reinforcement positive or negative as a basis for certain behaviours
Connections between two psychological theories…
Connections between Rational Choice and Learning Theories - emphasis in learning theories of reinforcement positive or negative as a basis for certain behaviours
Applied as part of ‘situational crime prevention’…
Changing the design of products (e.g. cars) can reduce crime markedly (Ekblom, 2005)
Increasing natural surveillance can decrease burglary (Ramsay, 1991)
Connections between Rational Choice Theory and Routine Activities Theory…
Routine activity theory (Cohen and Felson, 1979) - linked with rational choice theory but focuses on the ‘three main components in the commission of crime’
Until the 1970s what did criminology focus on?
Until 1970s, criminology focussed on motivation of offender and the factors that led to ‘deviant’ behaviour
What happened in the 1970’s?
Emergence of new paradigm: situational crime prevention
Cohen and Felson’s (1979) Routine Activity Thesis …
A way of linking theory and action, highlights problems of purely punitive responses to crime
Felson - any crime must be the product of three factors…
A potential target
A motivated offender
Absence of a capable guardian
Victimization cannot occur without …
Victimization cannot occur without a motivated offender
Changing human nature is uncertain and focusing crime prevention activities on…
Changing human nature is uncertain and focusing crime prevention activities on the physical environment is more likely to be (cost) effective
Crime prevention always involves…
Crime prevention always involves moral and political decisions, not just technical or resource related ones
However, …
It’s difficult for the model to explain how and why certain places vary in terms of the way they cause or attract crime
Applied as part of ‘situational crime prevention’…
Changing the design of products (e.g. cars) can reduce crime markedly (Ekblom, 2005)
Increasing natural surveillance can decrease burglary (Ramsay, 1991)
Connections between Rational Choice Theory and Routine Activities Theory…
Routine activity theory (Cohen and Felson, 1979) - linked with rational choice theory but focuses on the ‘three main components in the commission of crime’
Until the 1970s what did criminology focus on?
Until 1970s, criminology focussed on motivation of offender and the factors that led to ‘deviant’ behaviour
