SOC212H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Counterculture
Document Summary
Learning objectives: understand the background of rational choice theory. Choice theory first appeared as classical criminology. Individuals give up some of their liberty in exchange for social protection. Punishment 4 main objectives: prevent criminal offences, convince offender to commit the least serious crime possible, ensure that a criminal uses no more force than is necessary, prevent crime as cheaply as possible. The concepts of rational choice an offender decides to commit a crime after considering both personal factors (need for money, thrills, revenge) and situational factors (how well a target is protected, efficiency of local police force) In sum, rational choice involves shaping criminality and structuring crime. Personality, age status, risk and opportunity influence the decision to become a criminal; place , target and techniques to help structure a crime: be familiar with different crime prevention strategies. Situational crime prevention: eliminate or reduce particular crimes in narrow settings, such as increasing lighting and installing security alarms.
