#3. (Last Name A-L) Rational Choice? (due 2/8 at 11:30)
If your last name begins with A-L, complete this blog.
Read the Viewpoint section again on page 29 about Nathaniel B. Go back over the section in chapter 3 that discusses rational delinquents.
From the little that we know about Nathaniel B, is he a 'rational delinquent'?
Explain your answer (include elements of rational choice). (5 points)
posted by ProfessorQuinnCCP @ 5:40 PM
15 Comments:
Nathaniel was 13 when he commited this seriouse crime of killing his teacher because he received a fail in his subject but before that he has been telling his freind he was gong to kill his taecher and his name his going to be in the media although he was tried as an adult and has already serve 7 years of his term I see him as a free will youth who is in charge of his own free will and destinies he is also a rational delinquent who choose to violate the law at his will he knows the consequence of what he was doing but as govornor i would still pardon him because everybody deserve a second chance most especialy because he was only 13 when he commited this crime.
NOTE I wrote the first one that says annoynmouse but forget to type my name on it .
According to our textbook, the concept of rational delinquents is the view of juveniles as “rational decision makers who choose to violate the law.” This concept has become popular due to unsatisfactory results from rehabilitation techniques. Juvenile delinquency experts firmly believe that the “noble failures” (failed rehabilitation techniques) challenge the idea that delinquency is not solely correlated to socioeconomic status and family dysfunction. Research provides evidence of children from so-called “good” families displaying delinquent behavior and children from so-called “bad” families behaving in accordance to rules. In addition, reports reveal youths from “rich” families who commit crimes and youths from “poor” families who abide by the law. The view of rational delinquents identifies juveniles’ purposes for violating the law as his or her personal situation (needs, opportunities), values (conscience, peer evaluation) and situational factors (likelihood of being apprehended) (Siegel, Welsh and Senna 67). Furthermore, sociologist Timothy Brezina offers the theory that these delinquents act out as a coping mechanism. As said by Brezina, these juveniles exhibit delinquent behavior as means for perceived control, positive self-evaluation and combating negative experiences. Even though our textbook does not present us with detailed information regarding Nathaniel B., it appears that he fits the description of a rational delinquent and demonstrates Brezina’s three reasons for delinquency. Like most adolescents, Nathaniel struggles with the conflict between developing his independence and feeling forced to obey authority figures, such as his English teacher, and comply with school rules. His rebellion, throwing water balloons and interrupting class, is his way of achieving control. Equally important, Nathaniel strives to attain acceptance and admiration from his peers. Specifically, he seeks peer approval when he brags to his classmate about his plans to kill their teacher. He boasts about being newsworthy as an attempt to gain respect and attention from his peer. Lastly, Nathaniel becomes enraged about his suspension, failing grade and unsuccessful efforts to speak to two female classmates. Some teens combat embarrassing or hurtful experiences with alcohol, drugs and/or violence. Unfortunately, Nathaniel violently ends his teacher’s life as an act of revenge for problems in which Nathaniel causes (68).
Everyone from birth has the ability to make choices.As a baby our choices are limited due to being an infant and subsequently imobbile.As we get older we are able to make more choices for ourselves because we have gained the wisdom and capacity to think more rationally then before.Nevertheless,Rational thinking varies from our experiences,knowledge of the law,morals,what we were taught from family,and time on this earth.Nathaniel B. commited one of the worst crimes a human being can commit.He shot and killed his teacher because he recieved a bad grade amd for being suspended.He had a motive.It was said by police that Nathaniel B thought about the murder ahead of time,and as a result his actions were premeditated.In normal circumstances this is all we need to know to try anyone as an adult.However,Nathaniel B. was only 13 years old.At the age of 13 juveniles have a capacity to know right from wrong,but are more prone to acting irrationally.My rebutal towards the argument of Nathaniels rational Thinking is that at the age of 13 what is rational and not rational depends on the circumstances.If Nathaniel receives a bad grade,was suspended,and abused at home this may have impaired his ability to think rationally which he may have been able to do under normal circumstances.Normal 13 year olds dont shoot their teachers because of a bad grade or suspensiions.Nathaniel B. is clearly not a "Rational Deliquent".
At 13 years old, I don't believe that children grasp the concept of rational thinking. I do not believe that Nathaniel rationalized the situation that he put himself in. He chose to bring the gun to school, but I don't believe he understood what the outcome could be. He was not out to satisfy any urges, needs, or desires, as the text explains some youths do when breaking the law. He didn't think about the gun going off while holding it in his teacher's face. Nathaniel only knew that putting the gun in his teacher's face would scare him. Although Nathaniel had the free will to act on his own, he also had underlying factors that may have led him to commit the said crime. His mother explained that he was exposed to violence and abuse in the home. The book never mentioned if Nathaniel was rehabilitated, or if he received any kind of treatment while incarcerated. Rational decisions are made when all consequences and punishments are weighed beforehand. Nathaniel didn't weigh all of his situations, including his personal situation, his values, or his situational factors. All he knew was that he was failing his class, he couldn't to talk to the girls, and his English teacher was the cause. He wasn't thinking rationally, he was thinking impulsively.
I don't think Nathaniel was a rational delinquent. Rational choice states that a person risk violating the law after considering his/her own situation. Nathanial did not evaluate his situation he was getting abused at home but that don't give anyone the right to try in go intimidate someone. He made a choice to take the weapon to school with him but he did not think about what the outcome would be he just did it off of impulse. He was only 13 years old at the time he did not evaluate the seriousness of his punishment or his actions.
Nathaniel was 13 when he shot and killed his teacher. He was upset because he was failing, and he wasn't allowed to talk to two females in his class. He decided to bring a gun to school, whether or not he wanted to force his teacher into allowing him to talk to the girls, or whether this act was premeditated. Nathaniel is a rational delinquent. The textbook states " Those who subscribe to rational chioce model believe that the decision to commit a specific type of crime and the subsquent entry into a criminal lifestyle are a matter of personal decision making based on a weighing of available information". The benefit of Nathaniel talking to the girls outweighed any consquences. The prosecutor indicated that the act was premeditated, which implies that the act was thought out or planned. This information let us know that Nathaniel is a rational delinquent.
The elements of rational choice is present. Nathaniel personal situation the fact that he was failing his class( opportunity of conventional success), and values the fact that he told a classmate that he was going to shoot the teacher( need for peer approval).
I can also view Nathaniel's behavior as being a problem-solving mechanism used to overcome the troubles that he faces daily. Nathaniel was surrounded by domestic abuse and alcholism.
Sociologist Timothy Brezina talks about preceive control. This is when a child turns to delinquent behavior to gain control of thier lives. This delinquent behavior will help to avoid uncomfortable situations. Brezina also talk about positive self-evaluation. This is the critical period of time when an adolescent is seeking approval from thier peers to identify thier self-worth. Nathaniel fits the script for both preceive control and positive self- evaluation. This further let us know that Nathaniel is a rational delinquent.
I know that one might argue that Nathaniel was only 13 years old and that he didn't have the ability to think rationally. If he was thinking rationally he would had considered the time he would get for committing the crime.The fact of the matter is that Nathaniel was able to weigh a course of action with a punishment.It was more important for Nathaniel to be allowed to talk to the girls in his class, and gain approval of his peer than the consquences of his actions.
Nathaniel had recieved a failing grade from his Engish teacher and made the decision to kill him. I do believe Nathaniel was making a rational choice when he decided to shoot his teacher, maybe be he did not intend to kill him but he definiently wanted to send him a message about giving him that failing grade. The text book defines rational choice as
delinquents that are decision makers.Nathaniel B. was a decision maker, he made the decision to shoot his english teacher.Maybe he felt that by recieving a failing grade he would lose acceptace from some of his friends and family and if he shoot and scare his teacher; his teacher would then change his grade.A big part of ration choice is acceptance.
In Nathaniel home life there was a lot of violence inside the home between his parents. This may of had him thinking that the
only way to make his teacher change his grade was to use violence,were as thoght any other law-obiting
citizen would feel that if Nathaniel worked for a better grade he would get it. Ration choice says that the delinquent has a different value system than others do.It says that what he loses is more bigger than what others
think. Maybe if Nathaniel went home with a failing grade he would be in lots of trouble.He may have gotten
abused by his parents. Maybe he felt that by shooting his teacher his parents
would not find out.
Their are many reasons why he
could have
shot his teacher I dont know that answer, but what I do know is that he did make a decision and that was to shoot his teacher and that is what ration choice is based on making decisions.
Nathaniel was 13 when he committed this crime of murder, but from what I can tell he also had the mentality to plan out what his action was going to be. I think that in court his lawyer did what any lawyer would do, he took all his actions and tried to justify why this murder took place. I think that Nathaniel committed premeditated murder and was lucky to receive 2nd degree murder instead of 1st degree murder. Although this was a horrible crime, in chapter 3 rational delinquent states "Those who subscribe to the rational choice model believe that the decision to commit a specific type of crime and the subsequent entry into a criminal lifestyle are a matter of personal decision making based on a weighing of available information; hence, the term rational choice." I personally don't think that his intent was to have a criminal lifestyle, I think he thought only of his pain. This was a selfish act. "Rich or poor, some youths are greedy and selfish and choose to break the law to satisfy their needs, urges, and desires. Their delinquent tendencies can only be controlled by threatening them with punishments severe enough to convince them that(1) "crime does not pay" and (2) they are better off chossing conventional rather than criminal solutions to satisfy their needs." Nathaniel needed to know these things, and seven years may have taught him that. I think under what the guidelines are for rational delinquent "The view that delinquents are rational decision makers who choose to violate the law," puts him in this catagory. I also think that if he is let out that some help should be made available for him so that he can turn his life around. If you look at the case of the young man Nathaniel tate, he committed murder at a young age killing a little girl with wrestling moves. He was let out without any help and turn around and committed another crime. So if we can't fix him then letting him go would be a waste.
At 13 years old most children including Nathaniel B are rational decision makers. Nathaniel B. Nathaniel is a rational delinquent. He thought about what he was going to do and he did it. Nathaniel even told his friends that he’s going to be all over the news. As the books says on page 67 “ some youths are greedy and selfish and choose to break the law to satisfy their needs, urges and desires”. It was his desires to shot his English teacher Mr. G that day. The girls were was just adding fuel to his fire, when the teacher wouldn’t let Nathaniel talk to them.
He then made the choice to pull out the gun and wave it around. The gun fired and killed a man, the man died because of the choice he made. Nathaniel had many chances to walking away but he didn’t.
I do not believe that Nathaniel is a rational delinquent. One of the elements of rational choice is the decision to commit a crime after weighing the consequences that the crime may bring. He obviously didn't do that. It was not a rational decision to shoot his teacher. He was not going to receive a passing grade by shooting his teacher. Nathaniel appeared to act out of anger, without putting much thought into the severity of his action. If he would have rationalized his decision to bring a gun to school, his teacher would still be alive today. That being said, I don't believe a 13 year old boy has the ability to rationalize a situation the same way an adult would.
Yes, because before making the decision to bring the gun to his shool he thought about doing so and even told a friend he was going to bring the gun. Also he brought the gun to school with him because he thought in doing so that he would get his english teacher scared enough to change his failing grade, plus let him talk to the girls. If he had no intentions on using the gun he wouldn't have brung it loaded with bullets. So yes because he thought that him scaring the teacher with the gun would reward him with the change of his failing grade.
I believe Nathaniel B is a rational deliquent. The text states that a rational delinquent is a youth who chooses to break the law. Nathaniel knew his action was illegal because he said to his friend that it would be all over the news.If Nathaniel knew it was going to be on the news, he knew the severity of his action. Also the fact that he brought a the gun to school shows that it was a rational act and not an example of a "heat of passion" crime. According to the text, Nathaniel didn't have a stable household; his mom said he was subjected to abuse and alcoholism and i believe that played a part on his violent behavior but the fact that he brought the gun to school and knew it was going to be on the news shows me that he is a rational delinquent
The information that I read about Nathaniel B. I think some of the things mention in his case may make him appear to be a rational delinquent because their were reports that stated that Nathaniel told a classmate he was going to return to school and shoot the teacher and it was going to be all over the news that was very damaging for his case. I feel that he was a rational delinquet. In the text it states that delinquents are rational decision makers who choose to violate the law. If you are going by that definition yes he did choose to violate the law. The problem is Nathaniel was surrounded by domestic abuse and alcoholism at home so violence is all he knows so even though some of his action shows him being a rational delinquent 1. He decided to take a chance by violating law by bringing a gun to school and pointed it at Mr. G.. I don't think he thought everything out. I think he was acting out and trying to handle the situation the only way he was use to seeing and that was through violence. That's why even though all his action shows him being a rational delinquet, they needed to look deeper. It is not normal for a 13 year old boy to shoot want to shoot his teacher over bad grades or not being able to talk to girls. I think Nathaniel suffered from alot of Biosocial and Psychological issues that interfered with his decision making
According to our text a rational delinquent is one "who chooses to violate the law" The text also say that delinquents that violate the law only occurs when a child thinks rationally about thier decision and personal situations at home before they violate the law. In this case I think that Nathaniel is a rational delinquent because he had alot of anger building up inside of him and he wanted some type of revenge. He also probaly thought that he would get approval from his peers that it was okay to do. I do think that the thought of him getting caught and that maybe he didi not care about his consequences. Considering that he was only 13 years old I do think that he would benefit from some type of rehabilitation.
As a result of Nathaniel receiving a failing grade and being suspended from school, he killed his teacher. At age 13, I believe that children should know the difference between right and wrong. They should also know that if you kill someone that the punishment would be severe. Nathaniel was 13 when he committed the crime and I believe he knew that there would be serious consequences for his behavior if he killed someone. Based on the conversation that he had with his schoolmate, he intended to inflict harm on the teacher. After reading the text, I believe that Nathaniel is a rational delinquent. He took matters into his own hands and killed his teacher. According to the text, rational delinquents are rational decision makers who choose to violate the law (Siegel, Welsh, and Senna page 67). Nathaniel could have gone to an adult i.e.: principal or another teacher to help him out.
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