Explanation of criminal thinking paterns.

The second stage: justice is seen as a universal occurance and that punishment should reflect the amount of harm done. Later, justice is seen as realated to the consequences that transgression creates for others and that punishment should take account of intention.

The third sgate: is the understanding of social mutuality and a genuine interest in the welfare of people and situations.

According to Kohlberg everyone goes through these stages sequentially without skipping any stage. However, movement through these stages are not natural, that is people do not automatically move from one stage to the next as they mature. But according to stage theory, people cannot understand moral reasoning more than one stage ahead of their own.

In various control group experiments Arbuthnot et al concluded that there are obvious distinctions in moral attitudes toward the acceptability of various offences. And that most studies show delinquents attain lower stages of moral development that non-delinquents.

Rationality and choice:-

Point 3: Rational choice theory

The rational choice theory originated, by Jeremy bentham, out of the utilitarian concept that we choose that which will provide the most reward and will result in the least amount of pain. Clarke and Cornish developed this theory by indentifying the following assumptions:

1. offenders seek to benefit themselves by criminal behaviours.
2. In doing so decisions and choices are made, which are often simple.
3. Availibilty of relevant information, time available and the offenders cognitive abilities highly influence the decision making process.
4. Both the decision making process and the factor’s taken into account by offenders vary greatly at different stages of the decision making process and between different crimes.