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Strengths And Weaknesses Of Rational Choice Theory

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Abstract
Rational choice theory was originally developed by Cesare Beccaria. This theory provides a set of guidelines that help with the understanding of economic as well as social behavior. The theory suggests that individuals are in control of their own decisions and can make their own choices. In a critique, this theory does not account for the choices that are made in different situations and conditions. This theory can explain or even predict individual or social behavior. The weakness of this theory is that it fails to take all facts into account. Rational choice theory helps to show that people are responsible for their own choices regarding criminal behavior for the betterment of themselves.
Rational Choice Theory
The rational choice theory adopts a utilitarian belief that humans are reasoning actors who weigh means and ends, costs and benefits, to make a sensible choice. A person …show more content…

Some weaknesses of this theory are that it groups all people into a negative sense of self. Strengths of this theory are that it provides a basis for further study or development of criminal backgrounds. Rational choice theory is a good way to pick a criminal's brain and see if they had any additional motives rather than their own wants or desires. Understanding what goes along with this theory from the beginning thoughts to the end results, is something that contains both a good and bad side.
This theory helps to show that people typically do not act on impulse. All people think before they act and weighing out the costs and benefits of an action is something that takes place commonly. There are many different thought processes to investigate when considering a criminal and their choices. Impulsive crime is real, but majority of the time, the crime is planned. Criminals must determine whether what they are doing is worth risking their lives or their relationships with others. Everyone and everything has a price.

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Rational choice theory also stipulates that all complex social phenomena are driven by individual human actions. It focuses on the choice to engage in crime. We must keep in mind bounded rationality in order to understand Rationality is constrained by the limits of time and ability and the availability of relevant information (Cullen, 2014 pg 439). You can easily link Rational Choice theory to the film Scarface. In this film Tony Montana (Al Pacino) calculates the pleasure and benefits he can obtain if he becomes a cocaine distributer.

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