Rational Choice Theory And Life Course Theory

Words: 338
Pages: 2

There are many theories criminologists have developed to find out what causes an individual to commit criminal acts. The reason people commit crimes are varied and complex. In accordance, to Chapter 2 Causes of Crime (Gaines and Miller, 2017), a theory is an explanation of a happening or circumstance that is based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning. Based on the reading, there are two theories I believe explains criminal offending at its best. And there are rational choice theory and life course theory.
Rational choice theory explains before a person commits a crime they make logical choices about what exactly they are going to do and weigh the possible risks of paying the cost of crime, against the possible pain from punishment.