Strengths and Limitations of Rational-Choice Based Perspectives - Essay Example

Examine the strengths and limitations of rational-choice based perspectives. A major strength of rational-choice based perspectives is its reliance on mathematical techniques. “When a theory is couched in terms of mathematics, it is usually quite straightforward to determine whether the conclusions follow from the assumptions.” (Baylor University, 2002, 51). In effect, because of its theoretical value as contrasted to practical theories, rational choice based perspectives tend to “dominate its competitors because it has been more successful empirically.” (Baylor University, 2002, 53). Another advantage of this perspective is its emphasis and focus on decision making. Here, “a decision making approach views crime within a situational, interactional and social context. Explanations are developed that focus on the beliefs and perceptions of perpetrators of crime” (Indermaur, 1999, 5). Thus, having a more extensive perspective regarding the causes of crime. Another strength of this perspective is its adherence to the principle of parsimony, i.e. “it does not rely on scientists and eugenicists conducting detailed examinations of genetic material which most people could not do themselves” (“White”, 2010). Rather, it suggests that “the individuals who have a simple choice whether to commit the crime, commit crime or not” (“White”, 2010). Some people consider this as the greatest advantage of this view. This simplistic rational choice based perspective unfortunately leads to more limitations. I will examine these limitations next. Perhaps a major limitation of rational choice based perspectives is that it has the tendency to overstate the extent of how individuals weigh the costs verses the benefits when deciding whether or not to commit a crime (Curran and Renzetti, 2001). In effect, theorists tend to disregard factors such as conditioning and environment. Another limitation of this theory is that “the theorists fail to acknowledge that a sufficient solution to the crime problem itself may be more achievable if there were more equitable opportunities given to the individuals constrained by diminished sociological environments” (“Rational”, n.d.). Thus, for a rational choice theorist, the starting point always originates from the viewpoint of the individual, rather than from several individuals interacting together, from social situations, or from groups. Furthermore, rational choice based perspectives are limited due to its abstract nature, that is to say, its lack of realistic and empirical procedures. Thus, the limiting factor of this perspective would seem to be that “the assumptions of the theory are not literally and completely true . . . Determining the validity of a model would therefore seem to involve a subtle examination of both plausibility of assumptions and conformity with real-world data” (Baylor University, 2002, 56). In relation to its unempirical approach is “the lack of evidence, which is gathered to give facts to the explanation” (“White”, 2010). Thus, it leads us to Problems associated with inadequate information and uncertainty (“Gingrich”, 2000). In other words, the rational choice model limits the explanatory value of how people choose their course of action, which is vital to analyzing criminal behavior. Lastly, a critical limitation and criticism of this view is that “some theorists argue that almost everything humans do is rational, even altruism and self-sacrifice. By expanding to include all forms of action as rational, irrational action becomes part of the model. By including every possible form of action in rational choice theory, it is not clear how the standards of what is rational and what is not are constructed” (“Gingrich”) 2. Explain how developmental theories have recently informed our understanding of criminal behavior as a developmental process. ?? “The emerging developmental approach has emphasized the neurological, biological, mental, emotional, and social changes in children and how these changes influence the emergence of delinquency and adult criminal behavior” (Bartol, C. and Bartol, A., 2008, 231). What are these developmental theories and how have they informed our understanding of criminal behavior? All these developmental theories maintain that although criminal behavior may be initiated at any time, it is almost always begun in childhood. The importance of such theories is that it informs our understanding of criminal behavior as an aspect of human life, which is characterized by dynamism, i.e. behavior of criminals can change at any time. To give an example, take for instance Patterson’s Coercion theory. Patterson suggests that “parental monitoring behaviors determined a child’s social and academic wherewithal. The appropriate inculcation of social skills influenced adolescent successes and failures” (Delisi, 2005, 56). This informs our understanding of criminal behavior by demonstrating the impact and role of family and peers in the development of criminal behavior. Similar to Patterson’s theory is Moffitt’s Developmental Taxonomy. Here, Moffitt claims that, “the impetus driving their deviance is the ambiguity of puberty and adolescent development” (Delisi, 2005, 57). Here, it helps us understand the youth and adolescent stage of a person, as a possible cause for criminal behavior. This theory shows that criminals “often suffered adverse childhoods, demonstrated an array of problematic and antisocial behaviors, and generally led lives of crime and involvement with the criminal justice system” (Delisi, 2005, 57). Another major developmental theory is Sampson and Laub’s Age-Graded Theory of Informal Social Control and Cumulative Disadvantage. The main thesis here is that “informal social controls mediate structural context and explain criminal involvement, even in the face of the underlying level of criminal propensity” (Delisi, 2005, 58). This helps us analyze criminal behavior as a developmental process for it tells us that ones social factors such as family, school, work, are factors that may explain criminal involvement. It is a process insofar as it traces the probable links from childhood to adulthood in the light of a person’s informal social network. In addition, we also have Thornberry’s Interactional Theory, which recognizes that “all human behavior occurs in the context of some social interaction” (Delisi, 2005, 60). Thus, criminal behavior becomes shaped from youth with social figures that people are willing to associate with. This is why it is construed as a process, “whereby offenders gradually transition from a social network centered on delinquency to one centered on conventional behavior” (Delisi, 2005, 61). It is clear that developmental theories shape the manner by which theorists approach criminal behavior. They view it as a dynamic process, not one that is static. It suggests that criminal behavior develops and changes throughout time and is subject to the effects of social and environmental factors. All the developmental theories have one thing in common; they are dependent on the history of family development, social and academic performance, and peer associations. Thus, they view the development of criminal behavior similarly, i.e. as a dynamic process that are shaped by external factors subject to change. Works Cited Bartol, C. and Bartol, A. (2008). Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Research and Application (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Baylor University (2002). Rational Choice Theory: An Overview. Waco, TX: Steven L. Green. Curran, D.J., & Renzetti, C.M. (2001). Theories of crime (2nd ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Delisi, M. (2005). Career Criminals in Society. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Gingrich, P. (2000). Rational Choice Theory [htm document]. Department of Sociology and Social Studies,?University of Regina. Retrieved from http://uregina.ca/~gingrich/f1000.htm Indermaur, D. (1999). “Situational Prevention of Violent Crime: Theory and Practice in Australia.” In Studies on Crime and Crime Prevention, 8(1). Retrieved from http://www.crc.law.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/50334/Situational_Prevention_of_Violent_Crime.pdf Rational Choice Theory [PDF document]. University of North Texas, College of Public Affairs and Community Service. Retrieved from http://pacs.unt.edu/criminal-justice/sites/default/files/Midterm%20Example%20Answer%20Question%202.pdf White, Steven. (2010). What Are the Central Differences Between the biological explanation of Crime and the rational choice? Retrieved from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2775002/what_are_the_central_differences_between.html?cat=4 Read More