Page 4 - Flipbook: Sociology Shortcuts Issue 5: Situational Action Theory
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Something like Routine Activity While social disadvantage may not
Theory (RAT), for example, avoids cause crime the close correlation
the problem of causation by simply between the two is surely
taking individual situations and something that needs to, at the
motivations out of the equation. very least, be explored in more
detail?
In RAT world “everyone” is capable
of committing a crime given the This is the position taken by
right conditions (such as the Wikstrom in that while he
absence of anyone or anything to recognises the relationship isn’t a
stop them) and so what motivates straightforward causal one, there’s
people to commit crime – their enough of a relationship present to
inner psychological demons or warrant further investigation.
outer sociological conditions – are To this end Wikstrom’s Situational
largely (mis)cast as irrelevant.
Action Theory seeks to specify the
And while this neatly avoids the mechanisms that link social
“problem of causation” it leads to disadvantage to offending using
both notable absurdities (in this two testable concepts:
instance, crime effectively ��crime propensity: the extent to
becomes its own cause) and which different individuals are
doesn’t satisfactorily confront the attracted to and likely to commit, ROUTINE ACTIVITIES
elephant in the room:
crime.
why are young offenders
consistently and persistently drawn ��criminogenic exposure: the
from the ranks of the socially extent to which individuals
disadvantaged? experience criminal ideas and
behaviours.
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