Rational choice theory and criminal decision-making in criminology

Rational Choice Theory: A Response

With the exception of those who happen to be mentally ill, most people exhibit a rational mode of thinking. That means that before choosing a course of action, most individuals take into consideration all the relevant variables and only act if it is reasonable to do so.

According to the rational choice theory, most of those who break the law are rational thinking persons who are more likely than not to make calculated choices prior to committing a crime. As Siegel (2010, p. 85), points out, "before choosing to commit a crime, reasoning criminals carefully select targets, and their behavior is systematic and selective." An individual is hence less likely to commit a crime if chances of detection and/or apprehension are particularly high. This effectively means that any sane law breaker carefully considers the costs and benefits of each alternative before settling on that course of action which presents the least challenges. This is more so the case when it comes to burglaries in which case intruders have been known to case houses before attempting a break in. Here, an intruder seeks to identify specific vulnerabilities which make a specific home a perfect target. In that regard, evidence of an alarm system and a fierce looking dog in the compound are likely to deter even a determined burglar. While evidence of a functional alarm system in this case increases the chances of the robber being detected, a fierce or mean-looking dog enhances the chances of the intruder being apprehended and/or mauled. In such a case, a burglar is more likely to look for a softer target. This effectively supports Siegel's assertion that the behavior of criminals is not only selective but also systematic.

With a proper understanding of the rational choice theory, it is possible for individuals to take appropriate measures to deter would be criminals especially when it comes to burglaries. As Hakim and Blackstone (1997, p. 61) point out, "interviewed burglars have stated that an alarm, a large dog, and an effective town watch deter them." As rational thinking individuals, robbers know that all these things increase their chances of being detected and/or apprehended. Therefore, the goal of a homeowner should be to increase both the risk of apprehension and detection for any would-be intruder. Strategies in this case could include those already mentioned above and others including but not limited to the installation of CCTV cameras and adequate outdoor lighting.