ABSTRACT
A pressing need for cash, and a lack of other practical alternatives, criminal or noncriminal, can make armed robbery an attractive option for some individuals. And knowing where to find cash-rich victims and how to overcome opposition can make the rewards well worth the risk and effort. In the rational choice perspective, criminal acts are never "senseless," but are viewed as purposive acts intended to bring some benefit to the offender. The benefits of theft are obvious, but the rewards of crime can also include excitement, fun, prestige, sexual gratification, and the defiance or domination of others. The rational choice perspective takes the view of Simon that an individual's decision-making behavior is characterized by "limited" or "bounded" rationality. Criminal choices can be divided into two broad groups: "involvement" and "event" decisions. Event decisions relate to the commission of a particular offense.
