Andrea Yates Rational Choice Theory

When comparing rational choice theory to the Andrea Yates story it is evident that rational theory was in fact present throughout the duration of Andrea completing her heinous crime. According to the document provided via Investopedia, the rational theory could be defined as “... an economic principle that states that individuals always make prudent and logical decisions.” Throughout the case and its entirety, Andrea depicted characteristics of being fully rational and aware of her decisions. Several factors played a key part in determining whether or not Andrea Yates was rational at the time of the crime, factors such as; Andrea exclaimed that “she knew through a “feeling” that Satan wanted her to kill her children,” She struggled back and forth in her mind for one to two months about whether to take the lives of her children or herself. According to the rational choice theory document,

Although there are numerous definitions for strain theory it is normally defined when one becomes strained or stress, which often times results to one committing a crime. According to Agnew 1992, often times strain theory is categorized into three separate categories. The categories are as follows, “The inability to achieve one goals, the loss of a stimuli (i.e the death of a friend or loss of possession), or the presentation of negative stimuli (i.e verbal and physical abuse). Andrea depicted step 2 of the strain theory throughout the case and its entirety by demonstrating that she was suffering from depression. Andrea was not only dealing with postpartum depression, following the birth of her fourth child Luke, following Lukes death Andrea experienced an unsuccessful suicide attempt. A few months later, Andrea lost her father and experienced her second suicide