Rational choice theory
Definition
A criminological theory, associated with Cornish and Clarke, that treats offending as purposive behaviour: offenders assess the rewards, costs, risks, and effort of a crime and are more likely to offend when rewards outweigh costs. The theory is crime-specific and situational.
Related terms
- Capable guardian
- Any person or mechanism whose presence deters an offence. Guardians include neighbours, bystanders, CCTV, lighting, and patrols. Presence alone is sufficient: the...
- Crime triangle
- A visual tool, also called the problem analysis triangle, showing the three routine activity elements as the sides of a triangle. An...
- Routine activity theory
- A criminological framework developed by Cohen and Felson (1979) that explains property crime as the product of three converging elements: a motivated...
- Situational crime prevention
- A prevention approach, developed by Clarke, that uses opportunity-reduction techniques to make specific crimes harder, riskier, less rewarding, or less excusable. It...
- Suitable target
- In routine activity theory, a target whose value, inertia, visibility, and access (VIVA) make it attractive to an offender. Portable, valuable, and...
Explained in
- Rational Choice and Routine Activity TheoriesA criminological theory, associated with Cornish and Clarke, that treats offending as purposive behaviour: offenders assess the rewards, costs, risks, and effo...