NCJ Number
66473
Journal
JOURNAL OF THE MARKET RESEARCH SOCIETY Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 44-58
Date Published
1979
Length
15 pages
Annotation
CONSUMER BEHAVIOR THEORY, AND SPECIFICALLY THE EXPECTANCY-VALUE THEORY, IS APPLIED TO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AS A MEANS OF DEVELOPING A MORE EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO THIS BEHAVIOR BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
PRESENTLY, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONTROL HUMAN BEHAVIOR ACCORDING TO A UNIFORM AND RELATIVELY NARROW APPROACH WHICH INCLUDES PASSING LAWS THAT HOLD PENALTIES FOR IN CASE OF VIOLATION. CONSUMER BEHAVIOR, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF SELLING PARTICULAR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. THE MORE SUBTLE AND NONCOERCIVE APPROACHES OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOR THEORY MIGHT WELL BE APPLIED IN EFFORTS AT SOCIAL CONTROL. CONSUMER BEHAVIOR THEORY FIRST AIMS AT UNDERSTANDING THE CONSUMER'S RATIONALE, BELIEF SYSTEMS, AND VALUES. THESE FACTORS AFFECT BEHAVIOR RELATED TO PURCHASE OR NONPURCHASE OF THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE TO BE MARKETED. IN TERMS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, THIS MEANS CONDUCTING RESEARCH REGARDING THE PERSPECTIVES, BELIEFS, AND ATTITUDES PROMPTING A PARTICULAR DEVIANT BEHAVIOR. FROM THIS BASE OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE MOTIVATIONS OF THE OFFENDER OR POTENTIAL OFFENDER, A BROAD CAMPAIGN OF EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE, AND PERSUASION CAN BE MOUNTED TO RESHAPE THE BEHAVIOR OF THE TARGET GROUP. DIFFERENT APPROACHES WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR DIFFERENT DEVIANT BEHAVIORS. THIS WOULD BE IN CONTRAST TO THE BASICALLY UNIFORM APPROACH NOW TAKEN TO EXERT SOCIAL CONTROL OVER ALL FORMS OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR. WHILE PROBLEMS WOULD ARISE IN EFFORS TO COORDINATE A VARIETY OF MEANS FOR ATTACKING A GIVEN DEVIANCY, THE BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED WARRANT THE EFFORT. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)