CriminologyLesson 1 of 1 in the course Social control and labelling

Routine Activity Theory: Crime Opportunities, Targets, and Guardianship

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Routine activity theory explains crime by examining the situations and environments in which offenses occur. Rather than focusing only on the characteristics of offenders, it asks how everyday patterns of activity bring together opportunities for crime.

Routine activity theory is a sub-field of crime opportunity theory. Marcus Felson and Lawrence E. Cohen proposed it to help explain changes in crime rates in the United States between 1947 and 1974. The theory became widely used in criminology because it offers a way to analyze crime as an event situated in a particular environment.

All flashcards

What is routine activity theory?
A crime opportunity theory that explains crime by examining how everyday activities and environmental conditions create situations in which offenses can occur.
What are the three elements of routine activity theory?
A motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of capable guardianship must converge in space and time for crime to become more likely.
What does VIVA stand for?
Value, Inertia, Visibility, and Access: features that affect how suitable a target appears from an offender’s perspective.
Why does routine activity theory use the term target rather than always using victim?
A target can be property, and its owner or intended victim may not be present when the offense occurs.
Who or what can act as a capable guardian?
A person or object whose presence can deter or interrupt crime, such as a neighbor, coworker, or security device.

Quiz questions

  1. What does routine activity theory primarily examine?Answer: How everyday activities and environmental conditions shape opportunities for crime.
  2. Who proposed routine activity theory to help explain changes in U.S. crime rates between 1947 and 1974?Answer: Marcus Felson and Lawrence E. Cohen.
  3. Which elements must converge in space and time for crime to become more likely?Answer: A motivated offender, a suitable target, and absent capable guardianship.
  4. A valuable bicycle is visible and easy to reach while its owner is away. Which VIVA features increase its suitability?Answer: Value, visibility, and access.
  5. Which statement best describes capable guardianship in routine activity theory?Answer: A nearby person may deter or interrupt an offense without actively monitoring for crime.

Based on the Wikipedia article Routine activity theory, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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