Overview

This week’s textbook’s readings looked at the Classical School of Criminology, from a period in history when people began to study human nature and motivations as a way of understanding criminality. Among the classical theories is the idea that a person will always calculate the benefits of any course of action. That is, they will try to maximize the pleasure and minimize the pain in deciding to do something. This can be applied to a criminal act in that someone may decide against engaging in deviant behavior if the risks of a painful outcome, such as ending up in jail, are too high.

Preparation

In this activity, you will apply the pleasure versus pain principle to both crime and everyday life. To prepare, do the following:

1. Select a nonviolent crime (speeding/street racing, underage drinking or using recreational drugs, retail theft/shoplifting, vandalism, et cetera).
2. Use the Strayer library and the Internet to check definitions, statistics, and other information associated with the crime you chose. This will help you complete the assignment instructions.
   • Be sure to choose sources that are credible, relevant, and appropriate.
3. Think about an event in your life where you likely weighed the pleasures against the pain before making a significant decision. This can include simpler life choices such as buying something beyond your budget or overindulging in food.

Instructions

In a 1–2 page Word document, complete the following:

1. Create a brief scenario outlining a typical incident of the crime you chose.
   • What, who, where, when, et cetera, is involved?
   • Use 3–4 complete sentences for your scenario.
2. Describe at least three pleasures that would encourage someone to commit this crime.
   • Use a complete sentence for each pleasure.
3. Describe at least three pains that would discourage someone from committing this crime.
   • Use a complete sentence for each pain.
4. Summarize an event from your own life in which you likely applied the pleasure versus pain principle to your decision making.
   • Use 3–4 complete sentences for your summary.

If you quote sources or use statistics, be sure to cite them according to Strayer’s Citing Sources guidelines.