Rational choice theory and crime prevention
Rational choice theory argues that potential offenders calculate costs (punishment risk, effort) and benefits (financial gain, status) before committing crime; prevention increases costs (target hardening) to deter offending.
Real World
The UK's 'target hardening' approach — fitting council estates with CCTV, better lighting, and entry-phone systems — reflects rational choice theory by increasing the perceived risk for burglars and making crimes harder to commit.
Exam Focus
Contrast rational choice with Marxist approaches in 'assess' questions: rational choice ignores structural inequalities that limit legitimate choices.
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