Deterrence and Rational Choice Theories of Crime

Both deterrence theory and other explanations falling within the larger rational choice paradigm assign a greater role to rational decision making on the part of the criminal offender. Both are rooted in utilitarianism, the notion that public policy decisions should maximize pleasure, while minimizing pain among the general citizenry. The assumption of rational calculation among criminals is oftentimes viewed as being directly at odds with other theories of crime, though many criminologists envision rationality as falling more on a continuum as in a dichotomy. Deterrence doctrine identifies certainty, severity, and celerity of punishment as key elements in a rational decision-making process aimed at deciding between criminal and noncriminal paths of conduct. This central thesis is expanded to incorporate a range of contingencies for deterrent effects. Rational choice theory includes more than just deterrence. Routine activities or lifestyle theory is widely viewed as an analytical framework for understanding victimization patterns. It conceptualizes victimization as the result of convergence of motivated offenders, attractive targets, and a lack of capable guardians at some point in space and time.