THEME 1
THE RATIONAL ACTOR MODEL
FOUNDATION: Classical and Neo-classical schools
ATTRIBUTES:
Legal definition of crime
Punishment should fit the crime
Doctrine of free will
Non-scientific methodology
CONTEMPORARTY THEORIES:
Rational theories (Opportunity theories)
Routine activities (Cohen & Felson)
Rational choice (Cohen & Clarke)
1. KEY CONCEPTS
AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES
are those circumstances that cause the offender to be punished more severely than they
would normally be for a specific crime.
For example, conviction for the rape of a child would warrant a more serious punishment
than rape of an adult, because society views a child as more vulnerable and helpless.
CLASSICAL CRIMINOLOGY
as an approach to studying crime emphasises the importance of free will and views a
criminal act as one that had been consciously carried out by its perpetrator; the
perpetrator has rationally weighed up the advantages and disadvantages of undertaking the
action.
The main focus of classicist criminology is on the operation of the criminal justice system; if
this system operated in a consistent and predictable fashion, it would eliminate crime
(because those who committed crime knew that they would not get away with it).
CRIMINAL EVENT DECISIONS
are shorter processes that use more limited information that relates mainly to the immediate
circumstances and situations.
CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT
refers to the processes through which individuals initially choose to become involved in
particular forms of crime, to continue on this path, and then, later to desist from crime.
LIMITED OR BOUNDED RATIONALITY
is a term used to indicate that even though individuals may make poor decisions, often
based on incomplete or simply inadequate information, they are nonetheless rational
actors.
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, MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES
are those circumstances that would result in a more lenient sentence that would normally
be imposed for a similar crime.
A first time offender would normally receive a lighter sentence than someone with a long
criminal history.
NEO-CLASSICAL SCHOOL
is a body of theory that contends that scientific criminology (positivism), with its belief in
rehabilitation, is invalid.
According to this school of thought, society should return to the principles of classical
criminology and should deal with crime by concentrating on the administration of justice and
the punishment of offenders.
ROUTINE ACTIVITIES THEORY
is theory (associated primarily with Marcus Felson) which suggests that for crime to occur
three factors must be present, namely
o a motivated offender;
o a suitable victim; and the
o absence of capable guardians.
RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY
is a theory which emphasises the importance of rationality in human action, even if this is
limited (bounded).
It emphasises the decision-making processes involved in the choices made by offenders.
SOCIAL CONTRACT
is when an individual is bound to society only by his or her own consent, and society is
therefore responsible to him or her.
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THE RATIONAL ACTOR MODEL
FOUNDATION: Classical and Neo-classical schools
ATTRIBUTES:
Legal definition of crime
Punishment should fit the crime
Doctrine of free will
Non-scientific methodology
CONTEMPORARTY THEORIES:
Rational theories (Opportunity theories)
Routine activities (Cohen & Felson)
Rational choice (Cohen & Clarke)
1. KEY CONCEPTS
AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES
are those circumstances that cause the offender to be punished more severely than they
would normally be for a specific crime.
For example, conviction for the rape of a child would warrant a more serious punishment
than rape of an adult, because society views a child as more vulnerable and helpless.
CLASSICAL CRIMINOLOGY
as an approach to studying crime emphasises the importance of free will and views a
criminal act as one that had been consciously carried out by its perpetrator; the
perpetrator has rationally weighed up the advantages and disadvantages of undertaking the
action.
The main focus of classicist criminology is on the operation of the criminal justice system; if
this system operated in a consistent and predictable fashion, it would eliminate crime
(because those who committed crime knew that they would not get away with it).
CRIMINAL EVENT DECISIONS
are shorter processes that use more limited information that relates mainly to the immediate
circumstances and situations.
CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT
refers to the processes through which individuals initially choose to become involved in
particular forms of crime, to continue on this path, and then, later to desist from crime.
LIMITED OR BOUNDED RATIONALITY
is a term used to indicate that even though individuals may make poor decisions, often
based on incomplete or simply inadequate information, they are nonetheless rational
actors.
1
, MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES
are those circumstances that would result in a more lenient sentence that would normally
be imposed for a similar crime.
A first time offender would normally receive a lighter sentence than someone with a long
criminal history.
NEO-CLASSICAL SCHOOL
is a body of theory that contends that scientific criminology (positivism), with its belief in
rehabilitation, is invalid.
According to this school of thought, society should return to the principles of classical
criminology and should deal with crime by concentrating on the administration of justice and
the punishment of offenders.
ROUTINE ACTIVITIES THEORY
is theory (associated primarily with Marcus Felson) which suggests that for crime to occur
three factors must be present, namely
o a motivated offender;
o a suitable victim; and the
o absence of capable guardians.
RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY
is a theory which emphasises the importance of rationality in human action, even if this is
limited (bounded).
It emphasises the decision-making processes involved in the choices made by offenders.
SOCIAL CONTRACT
is when an individual is bound to society only by his or her own consent, and society is
therefore responsible to him or her.
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