Module 5 Guided Notes: Ch 4 Deterrence and Rational Choice

What are the major works of Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham?

The major works of Cesare Beccaria’s On Crimes and Punishments and Jeremy Bentham’s An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation.

How did Cesare Beccaria’s views on punishment differ from retribution? How did his views differ from how the European legal system operated before and during his time?

Beccaria believed punishment should prevent future crime rather than simply provide revenge. He supported punishments that were proportionate, certain and swift. This differed from European legal systems at the time, which often used harsh, painful, and arbitrary punishments, including torture and executions.

What is Jeremy Bentham’s concept of hedonistic calculus?

Hedonistic calculus is the idea that people weigh the pleasures and pains of their choices before acting. People are more likely to commit a crime when they believe the benefits will outweigh the possible costs.

Why did Beccaria believe laws should be clear and simple? 

He believed laws should be clear and simple so that people could understand what is illegal and know the consequences of their actions. This would make punishment more predictable and help prevent crime.

What is the main idea behind classical deterrence theory?

The main idea is that people will avoid crime when they believe the costs and consequences of offending outweigh the benefits.

How does general deterrence differ from specific deterrence?

General deterrence attempts to discourage the general public from committing crimes by punishing offenders. Specific deterrence attempts to prevent a particular offender from committing another crime through their personal experience with punishment.

What are the three key principles of deterrence according to classical theory?

The three principles are certainty, severity and swiftness of punishment.

Which principle of deterrence theory does evidence suggest is the most effective at deterring crime?

Evidence generally suggests that certainty of punishment is more effective at deterring crime than simply increasing the severity of punishment.

What are some criticisms of modern deterrence theory?

Critics argue that people don’t always make completely rational decisions. Emotions, impulsivity, substance use, peer pressure, and other social and psychological factors can influence decisions.

How do findings from behavioral science influence modern deterrence theory?

Behavioral science shows that people often use limited information, emotions, habits, and many shortcuts when making decisions. This suggests that offending decisions may not always involve careful calculations of costs and benefits.

Why might overemphasis on rationality be a critique of deterrence theories?

Overemphasizing rationally assumes people carefully consider the consequences of their action. In reality, some crimes are committed impulsively or under the influence of emotions, substances, or other factors.

What’s differential deterrence?

Different deterrence is the idea that the perceived certainty and severity of punishment can affect different people differently. Individuals may respond differently to the same potential consequences based on their experiences and circumstances.

Why might two people who experience similar situations respond to them in completely different ways?

Stafford and Warr argued that deterrence focused too much on the individual’s direct experience with punishment. They suggested including vicarious experiences, meaning people can be deterred by seeing or learning about the punishment experienced by others.

What is the foundation of rational choice theory

The foundation is the idea that people make choices based on a consideration of the potential costs and benefits of their actions.

How do individuals make decisions according to rational choice theory?

Individuals consider the available options and choose the action they believe will provide the greatest benefit while having acceptable risks or costs.

How is situational crime prevention related to rational choice theory?

Situational crime prevention uses rational choice theory by changing situations to make crime more difficult, risky, or less rewarding.

Why is it important to modify the environment to reduce opportunities for crime?

Changing the environment can reduce opportunities for crime by increasing effort and risk while decreasing potential rewards. This can make offending less attractive to potential offenders.

What is a “journey to crime”?

A journey to crime is the distance or travel an offender makes from their home or usual location to the place where they commit a crime.

What is bounded rationality, and how does it differ from early classical theory’s concept of rationality?

Bounded rationally means people make decisions rationally within limits, such as limited information, time, knowledge, and cognitive abilities. Early classical theory assumed people had a much greater ability to carefully and rationally calculate the consequences of their actions.

Who developed routine activities theory?

Routine activities theory was developed by Lawrence Cohen and Marcus Felson.

What was the U.S. economy like in the mid-20th century? How about the crime rate? How did their relationship influence the development of routine activities theory?

The US experienced significant economic growth and increased consumer wealth during the mid-20th century. At the same time, crime rates increased. Cohen and Felson argued that changes in people’s everyday routines created more opportunities for crime, helping explain why crime could increase even as society became more prosperous.

What are the three components of the crime triangle in routine activities theory?

The three components are a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of capable guardianship.

What makes a target suitable in routine activities theory? Give an example of a suitable target.

A suitable target is one that is valuable, accessible, visible, and relatively easy to take or attack. For example, an unlocked laptop left unattended in a college library could be a suitable target.

How can changes in societal routines and lifestyles impact crime rates?

Changes in routines can create or reduce opportunities for crime. For example, if more people spend time away from home, there may be fewer guardians around homes and more opportunities for burglary.

What is a critique of routine activities theory regarding how it might influence perceptions of victimization?

A criticism is that the theory can sometimes make it seem as though victims are responsible for their own victimization because of their routines or behaviors. However, being in a particular situation doesn’t mean a victim caused or deserved the crime.

How can an offender's daily routine influence the likelihood of committing a crime?

An offender’s routine can determine how often they encounter potential targets and situations where guardians are absent. More exposure to these opportunities can increase the likelihood of offending.