Decisionmaking I: Instrumental Decisionmaking

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Decisionmaking IInstrumental Decisionmaking

• Sociology 641

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Introduction to Decision-making

• Decision-making The process of choosing between
  alternative, incompatible lines of action
• Recognized and unrecognized decisions
• Why do people obey the law?
• Three major models
• Instrumental/Consequential/Rational-Choice
• Normative/Moral
• Cognitive/Constitutive/Definitional

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Instrumental/Consequential/Rational Decisionmaking

• Basic model
• What are my goals (preferences)?
• What are my alternatives?
• How do my alternatives map onto my goals?
• Maximize goal attainment.
• James March Consequential Action
• AKA Cost-Benefit Analysis

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Behavioral Consistency

• Simple, largely biological tastes
• Utility
• Individual differences average out
• To predict behavior
• Knowledge of tastes
• Knowledge of incentives
• Calculate maximizing behavior
• Consistency reflects
• Stable tastes
• Stable (or measurable) incentive structure

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Implications for Sociology of Law

• Obedience reflects self-interest
• Deterrence theory

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Deterrence ResearchMethodological Issues

• Sanctions?
• On the books vs. in action
• Actual vs. perceived
• Crime?
• Official statistics vs. self reports
• Deterrence?
• Specific vs. general deterrence
• Absolute vs. restrictive deterrence
• Byproducts Education, evasion

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Deterrence ResearchFindings

• Characteristics of Sanctions
• Characteristics of Criminal Acts
• Characteristics of Criminal Actors

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Sanctions

• Two aspects Certainty (c) and Severity (s)
• Economics D C x S
• Findings Certainty is more important than
  severity

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Criminal Acts and Criminal Actors

• William Chambliss (1967)
• Evidence of deterrence varies by type of deviance
• Criminal Acts Expressive vs. Instrumental
• Criminal Actors Low vs. High Commitment

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2x2 typology
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Summary

• Basics People pursue material self-interest
• Deterrence Theory Sanctions produce compliance
  by ensuring that crime doesnt pay
• Deterrence Research
• Certainty outweighs severity
• Crimes and criminals differ in their
  responsiveness to sanction threats