Rational Choice, Routine Activities, and Deterrence

The most venerable criminological theories were all determinist theories. Biological Determinism: Lombroso, Sheldon Psychological Determinism: Maudsley, Goring Social Determinism: Tarde, Comte, Quetelet, Durkheim

Some old and newer perspectives are not determinist but see crime as an outcome of choice, i.e., of rational calculation. Classical Utilitarianism: Locke, Bentham, Beccaria Rational Choice Theory Routine Activities Theory Suitable targets Motivated offenders Absence of capable guardians Routine activities theory is associated with “lifestyle” theories of victimology, because it accounts for victimization based on the “routine activities” of crime victims and suggests practices to avoid it including target hardening and other forms of security as well as area projects, etc.

Deterrence “Deterrence” relies on potential criminals’ rational capabilities. Two forms: General deterrence Specific deterrence Evidence both for and against deterrence is abundant, but research into the “rational capabilities” of criminals is less so, eg, Kenneth Tunnel found that criminals were NOT “rational” because they only considered rewards and not costs.