Wortley, R;
(2008)
Situational precipitators of crime.
In: Wortley, R and Mazerolle, L, (eds.)
Environmental criminology and crime analysis.
Willan: London, UK.
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Abstract
As we saw in the previous chapter, rational choice is the usual way in environmental criminology to think about the role that immediate environments play in behaviour. According to rational choice perspective, the immediate environment is the source of information that an individual uses to decide whether or not to commit a contemplated crime. Potential offenders weigh up the likely outcomes of illegal behaviour and commit crime if the benefits are judged to outweigh the costs. In this chapter it is argued that rational choice provides only half the explanation for the role of immediate environments. Immediate environments can also actively encourage or induce individuals to commit crimes that they may not have otherwise contemplated at that time. Consider the following scenario: Jim arranges to meet his friends at a local nightclub for an evening out. He arrives at the club in good spirits anticipating an enjoyable night. When he arrives at the front door, the door staff are surly and belligerent towards him before eventually allowing him to go inside. When he enters the nightclub he discovers it is packed to capacity. After fighting his way through the crowd he finally locates his friends. There are no tables or chairs left and they are forced stand in the corner with people jostling around them. The music is at full volume and continues without a break, making it impossible to carry on a conversation. The air conditioning cannot cope with the crowd and the room is hot, dark and oppressive. Jim and his friends drink steadily. However, getting to the bar is an ordeal and it can take half an hour to get served. As Jim struggles back from the bar with the latest round of drinks, another patron bumps him and knocks the drinks all over him. Jim’s friends urge him to retaliate and hit the man.
| Type: | Book chapter |
|---|---|
| Title: | Situational precipitators of crime |
| ISBN: | 1843922800 |
| ISBN-13: | 9780203118214 |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.4324/9780203118214 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203118214 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Security and Crime Science |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1301875 |
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