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Criminal Acts and Choice
Choice theory plays and important aspect when accessing reasons contributing to criminal activities. The importance of the theory assist in coming up with strategies for reducing criminal activities. The importance of an understanding to the theory comes out from the contribution that the theory stands to give. It is vital to learn how the theory bears upon the chance that someone will take up or even attempt to control a criminal activity and endeavor to curb crime from taking place. Primary choice theory will help to discourage criminal activities.
The core ideas held in choice theory according to Siegel (2006)
are: people are free to choose with the motive of their ideas being driven by greed, vanity, jealousy, revenge, lust, need, anger and vanity all these are but expressions of choice that comes out of once free will; these choice control is possible by fear of punishment; swift and server punishment will bear greater impact in controlling criminal behaviors.
The fundament constructs of the otherwise called classical theory (Choice theory) is that people calculate the relative cost and benefits attached to intended action and with the calculation decide on the action that would maximize their expected utility. This rational choices made in this circumstance are a process according to the choice theory of information of the act intended and the consequences if one was to be caught.
The most prime objective of the choice theory is to assist in curbing criminal activities. Then the theory when it fails to prevent criminal activities it ought to sway offence to a lesser criminal act. Thirdly it checks that the offender uses the least force possible and finally it cheaply it tries to disallow crime.
Similar to the classical theory of choice is one put across by Cornish...
They are: 1) wiling offenders, 2) target that are suitable and indisposed, missing and incompetent guardiansCornish & Clarke, 1987()
The choice theory's popularity came about through a political process which was the effort to reign in security for the masses. The argument was to reduce criminal acts and the actors by swift incarceration of known criminals and consequently deterring would be offenders. This revived the classical theory and a political shift towards conservatism in the public policy with the election of Ronal Reagan. The intelligent thought process and decision making by criminals is what is nowadays called the rational choice theory or even the new choice theory Frank, 1990()
1990).
Rational choice stands out as a decisiveness to undertake an activity criminal/illegal by accessing the information available and determining that best cause of action. It's a matter of rationalizing the decision weighing the pro and cons associated. The available information include the jail time one stand to face when caught, the resource available to undertake the act, the location and time for the act, and also the other times the act has been undertaken and what proportion of success was realized. What the choice theories tries to emphasize is the fact that criminal acts are not random antisocial demeanors. Rather, they are well thought actions planned and the intended perpetrators go through the needs, access their skill control their fear and gang up in courage to commit crime Glasser, 1998()
Proponents of the choice theory believe that crime is a processed event and criminals' behavior is a trait of their personality. The offenders comprehend…
References
Cornish, D., & Clarke, R. (1987). Understanding crime displacement. Criminology 25, 933-947.
Frank, R.H. (1990). Rethinking Rational Choice. In R. In Friedland, and Robertson, A.F., eds. (Ed.), Beyond the Marketplace: Rethinking Economy and Society (pp. 53-87). New york: aldine de gruyter.
Glasser, W. (1998). Choice theory: a new psychology of personal freedom: HarperPerennial.
Siegel, L. (2006). Criminology. Belmont, CA: wadsworth.
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