The Choice Theory in Criminology
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The Choice theory in criminology stands for the belief that a man as the main reasoning factor weighing all the pros and cons, costs and benefits, and makes this, or that decision. The rational choice theory is also known as the classical theory, for it describes fundamental principles of human behavior in relations to criminology. The core concept of the entire studying launched by scholars (psychologists and social behaviorists) explains the idea that people in their everyday lives choose certain way of behavior, including criminal behavior.
The theory of choices in criminology holds that people making particular choices are controlled by particular factors, like fear of punishment, for example. Here comes another side of the theory application – the one, which is assigned to the society and punitive public institutions. The idea stands for the more severe the punishment, the more is the ability and willing to control personal criminal behavior.
After determining the fundamental elements and notions of the choice theory in criminology, it is necessary also to mention the process of its development. In 1764, Cesare Beccaria (1738-1794), wrote Essays on Crimes and Punishment became the founder of the Classical School of criminology. Beccaria proposed basic changes in criminal law to make them humanitarian. Proposing that ,punishment have a necessary impact to deter criminal acts but not excessively (Schmallager, 2009). The description of the basic elements are “crime is caused by the individual exercise of free will, pain and pleasure are the two central determinants of human behavior, crime erodes the bond that exists between individuals and society and is therefore an immoral form of behavior, punishment, a necessary evil, is sometimes required to deter law violators from repeating their crime and to serve as an example to others who would also violate the law, and crime prevention is possible through swift and certain punishment that offsets any gains to be had through criminal behavior” (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 81).
In any case the subject matter of the essay is to find direct links between the choice theory and criminal behavior and the following outcomes. Referring to Lawrence Cohen and Marcus Felson, the routine activities of everyday life set the scene for peoples interactions by pacing crime targets and certain models of behavior. They argued that “lifestyles affect both the amount and type of crime found in society” (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 82). This paradoxical statement stands for the belief that no one could, be sure, which events would follow the choice.
Cohen and Felsons reading is an attempt to explain that certain people have inclinations to commit crimes from the very beginning without being placed in the necessity-to-choose-the-behavior-situations. Such people are inclined to break laws; meanwhile others by breaking the same laws simple protect their families