Introduction
The rational choice concept implies that man makes decisions using reasoning and logic. Criminology sees a rational criminal as someone who commits a felony to get a reward. An award can be in the form of money, pleasure, or satisfaction. The person chooses to violate a law if the benefits outweigh the potential risks associated with a crime. Nonetheless, there is a controversy regarding whether all crimes should be viewed as rational decisions. Some people claim that many individuals’ behavior is predetermined, and they have no actual choice when disobeying the law.
Main body
Determinism is an assumption that suggests that all events and choices are influenced by previously occurred causes. It rejects the free-will theory, which states anyone can choose to behave and make decisions of their own will. Contrariwise, determinism views that environmental factors, such as genetics, the family, peers’ influence, social media, and surrounding community affect the person’s actions and decisions. There are cases when children repeat the destructive behavior of their violent parents. People’s psychology and minds are strongly linked to the events in childhood and teenage years. Thus, the deterministic approach regards free will and motivation as misconceptions that do not consider causing events behind any crime.
Despite the widespread belief in determinism, not all criminalists agree with this theory. Past events impact people’s behavior to a certain extent, but they have the freedom to decide whether to break the law. The crime occurrence does not solely depend on the person’s past. Environment and previous events may constrain the possibilities of what can happen in the future; however, there are always many variants of potential consequences. Hence, the result is not fixed or predetermined in advance, how it is often perceived. Humans are highly intelligent, and they are capable of logical reasoning most of the time.
People in a clear state of mind are responsible for their decisions. Examples of rational crimes are the planned robbery of the house, knowing that its hosts are out of the city for weekends, or taking bribes as a person in a high-ranking position. The exceptions would be adolescent people under 18, perceptive to the influence of their surroundings, who have not fully developed moral standards and rational behavior. Moreover, a person with mental illnesses who do not understand the outcomes of their actions should not be put into the same category as people with a healthy mindset.
Nevertheless, law enforcement workers should take into account those who act against the law without logical reasoning behind it. The emotional background is an essential aspect that can lead to cruel practice. For instance, some people commit felonies out of temper, anger, and frustration. Furthermore, there are frequent cases of individuals indulging in crime under the influence of alcohol or narcotic substances. Addicted parents often violently abuse their children without understanding their actions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, despite the effect of surrounding and past events on the possible outcomes on the future, people have the free will to choose to violate the law or not. Many people seek the benefits from the crime and weigh all the dangers and consequences. They are responsible for their actions unless a person is underage or has a psychological disorder. However, not all crimes can be considered rational since factors as emotional state or substance abuse can cause violent behavior.