Cocooning and the Rational Choice Theory

Cocooning and the Rational Choice Theory
Cocooning and the Rational Choice Theory
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Cocooning and the Rational Choice Theory
Introduction
Cocooning is the act of staying indoors, closing all doors and windows as a result of a
perceived danger instead of going out. It is a reactive strategy that was started back in the mid
1990’s as a means of crime prevention, mainly the reoccurrence of residential burglary
(Stokes & Clare, 2019). Since its invention, the technique has emerged to become a more
appealing and has been used as an important tool in crime prevention. However, this
technique can only be more effective when in combination with other police efforts.
In residential burglary prevention, the technique involves seeing the victim in person and
offering him or her crime prevention advice and reassurance. The neighbours are also visited
in person, informed on the current crimes taking place and given crime prevention advice.
(Markson, Woodhams & Bond, 2010). The neighbours are too informed of the method used
by the burglars and the property they took. The above activity sees to it that the community
around becomes aware of the fact that burglars are operating in the area (Moreto, Piza &
Caplan, 2014). This helps them to be aware of the available policing services, their
accessibility and the appropriate measures that they can take when danger arises.
Burglars are usually as a result unlocked windows and doors. The residents should
therefore be reminded on the importance of staying indoors, locking all windows and doors
and reporting any suspicious activity to the police (Montoya, Junger & Ongena, 2016).
Burglars are usually fond of targeting houses in the same street or a number of streets in the
same area (Bouhana, Johnson & Porter, 2016). They are not used to traveling to far places
and therefore hit houses that are in close proximity. For cocooning to be effective, it should
take place as fast as possible. It is said that burglars usually take a very short timeframe,
around 48 hours, to return. Cocooning could therefore be most effective if it is carried out
within a window period of 24 hours to 48 hours after the first event (Bernasco, 2014).

Cocooning and the Rational Choice Theory
Rational Choice theory
The theory states that individuals depend on rational calculations to obtain outcomes that
conform with their personal objectives. The decisions made by the individual make him or
her achieve the greatest benefit or satisfaction (Cornish & Clarke, 2014). The theory forms a
framework for understanding and modelling of the social and economic behaviour. It
assumes that among the availed alternatives, a person has preferences. The options are
complete and transitive (Clarke & Cornish, 2013). Being complete means that the individual
can choose which of the alternatives they prefer or fail to choose if neither is preferred to the
other. Being transitive insinuates that if for instance one has three option, A, B and C and
option A is preferred over B and option B preferred over C then automatically, option A is
preferred over option.
The theory assumes that every individual tries to maximise his advantage in various
situations and therefore try as much as possible to reduce any loses. This therefore means that
rational calculus, being the dictator of human behaviour, would be the driving force when one
wants to make a choice whose outcome should be maximum and provide profit or pleasure
(Wortley & Townsley, 2016). The theory also suggests that all complex social phenomena
are as a result of the individual actions of human beings (Farrell, 2010). Thus, this means that
by studying the individuals’ rational decisions, one can gain an understanding of the
behaviour of the society as a whole.
Application of rational choice theory to cocooning
In residential burglary and other forms of criminology, the rational choice theory assumes
the belief that a man makes a rational choice by weighing the means and ends, costs and
benefits. The theory assumes that burglary is a purposive behaviour that has been designed to
meet the burglars needs such as money, excitement and sex (Seipel & Eifler, 2010).