Rational Theory and Charlotte, NC

Rational Theory and Charlotte, NC

CMPD Burglary detectives are actively investigating a recent rash of residential burglaries that have similar suspect descriptions and use similar methods" (Charlotte, p. 1).

Methodological individualism is the assumption that social situations or collective behaviors are the result of individual actions" (Homans, p. 301). According to rational theory, a person acts within constraints, based on the information given about the conditions they are in, in order to achieve what they want. In other words, it depends on how one looks at motivations and the fulfillment of desires. If one sees that a large number of crimes are being perpetrated in a certain way, then others can act in that exact, same way, commiting the crimes in the way that is being described, since it appears to be successful. The constraints which the burglaries are being acted within are the policing and the information being given to householders.

The way the burglaries in the Charlotte-Meklenberg community are being committed are described everywhere, in the newspapers, in the police reports and on the web: They all follow this pattern: The vehicles the thieves drive are SUVs or late-model sedans which are rented or stolen. Most occur during the day, although no apparent constraint as to the day of the week or the time is apparent. The burglars knock on the front door to see if anyone is at home, then go around to the back and kick the back door in. When burglars enter through front door, it may be because the house design hides the front entrance from the street. There have been a few cases of residents not responding to the knock on the front door and the burglars broke in, thinking no one was at home. Then, when they saw someone was home, they fled the scene immediately, without taking anything. The suspect descriptions are of 3-4 black males, most with dreadlocks, ages 18-25 (Charlotte, p. 15).

This detailed description of the kind of burglary which is being committed frequently in the area is quite informative and may be simply followed by anyone who wishes to burglarize. "At its simplest, the relationship between preferences and constraints can be seen in the purely technical terms of the relationship of a means to an end" (Homans, p. 302).

The burglars act within specific, given constraints and on the basis of the information that they have about the conditions under which they are acting.

As it is not possible for individuals to achieve all of the various things that they want, they must also make choices in relation to both their goals and the means for attaining these goals. Rational choice theories hold that individuals must anticipate the outcomes of alternative courses of action and calculate that which will be best for them. Rational individuals choose the alternative that is likely to give them the greatest satisfaction (Scott, p. 3).

However, there are three related things which have kept theorists from depicting theories of rational action as theories of social action. These are social structure, social norms, and collective action. The problems inherent in these three areas have made it impossible to tie down rational theories to explanations and to find solutions to these problems. This would mean that rational theory may have nothing to do with problems in these areas.

If one follow the insights of rational theories it would not be possible to understand how individuals cooperate in groups or gangs, as these burglar groups do. The Rational Theory presumes that an individual wishes to gain the most personal profit from an endeavour, so would not do it in a group, when it can be done individually. Social norms would dictate that their group behavior overrides their individual behaviour. This is the Hobbesian problem of order: If a person is mostly out for him or herself, how can they have a social life?

The rational theory also runs into problems in social structures in that it is not possible for an individualistic theory like this to account for large social structures. Can social structures be reduced to the actions of individuals? If so, one must explain social structures differently in relation to rational choice theories, as social structures assume the individual is acting in accordance with social strictures.

It is methodological individualism which makes up the group, creating problems for the Rational 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 the kinds of burglaries being perpetrated and they were pursuing leads. Officers made an arrest in one case that fit the pattern of recent burglaries and were interviewing the suspect to see if the burglaries were related. In one day, in the North of Mecklenburg County, four homes were broken into. All of them had similar methodology to other burglaries occurring earlier that month in the South. But the same kind of break-ins has been reported in all the other parts of the city, as well.

Overall, crime in Charlotte-Mecklenberg is down in every aspect. It is not that the offenders are not finding police protection in the city, but that the burglaries are committed in every part of the city and there are not enough police available at every time of the day and night to protect every home from small groups of teen-agers who wish to approach an unguarded residence, ascertain whether it is occupied at the moment and, if it is not occupied, kick the back door in and take whatever they want. It appears to be a common crime which is opportunistic and may be perpetrated by small groups of teens who happen to be passing by.

Security cameras on city streets have been tried in various cities, but have not deterred crime, though they help in discovering who has committed the crime. A larger and more active police force, which Charlotte-Mecklenberg is currently funding, will help, but will not solve the problem of ethics and morals which seem to be in crisis at this time. Community action and Neighborhood-Watch programs may be of the most help in deterring this sort of crime, as Neighborhood-Watch neighbors watch homes which are unoccupied.