Criminology enables the society to understand the nature of crimes, their causes, and impact in the society. Therefore, it is important for criminologists to embrace and recognize a critical role that is played by pop culture, especially concerning understanding various types of crimes in the community. Media such as books and films provide criminologists with the opportunity to use pop culture to explain different types of crimes. At the same time, there are many theories that criminologists can rely on to have an in-depth understanding of complex criminal activities. Double Indemnity (1944) film through its protagonist character known as Walter Neff illustrates the relationship between rational choice theory (RCT) and criminology.
Walter Neff is the main protagonist character in the Double Indemnity film. Walter is an insurance salesperson. He has successfully managed to combine his sales talents and hard work to succeed in the insurance industry. As a routine house call to inform his clients about the status of their insurance policy, Walter set his eyes on the beautiful wife of his client, a policyholder (Rafter & Brown, 2011). To collect a massive insurance payout and to have and to get the wife of the policyholder, Walter plots an accident to kill the woman's husband. The plot was successful, and Walter managed to kill the policyholder through the accident. Unfortunately, Walter does not get the money and the woman after committing a murder crime.
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The film was released when the love for money was the most popular culture in many parts of the world, especially in developed countries. Many people in developed countries had a lot of fascination with wealth, and they could do anything to get rich, even when it means committing crimes such as murder (White, 2017). Consequently, the concept of “Generation Wealth” emerged people were striving to acquire wealth. Fascination with money became a popular culture in America and other developed countries in the 1940s. The passion for making wealth make characters like Walter to kill policyholder to get money. At the same time, the media was full of images of ideal women. Therefore, Walter wanted to have a relationship with the policyholder’s wife to fit in a given social class in the society.
Walter's criminal behavior can be explained by rational choice. RCT is one of the leading theories that are used by criminologist why people commit a crime. The theory was first associated with Gary Becker in 1968 (Paternoster, Jaynes & Wilson, 2017). According to the proponents of RCT, there is no significant difference between criminal and noncriminal behaviors of individuals because people deliberately decide to make choices or decisions that fit their interests (Paternoster, Jaynes & Wilson, 2017). Therefore, based on the theory, people make rational decisions to violate existing laws or commit a crime after they have considered the costs and benefits of their actions. As a result, individuals are likely to commit a crime if they believe that benefits are more than costs or the punishment (Deflem, 2010). Hence, like noncriminal actions, people weigh the benefits and costs of an action before making the final decision. The theory asserts that choices that are made by criminals are rational and self-interested just like any other decision. RCT contradicts previous related theories that assume that people commit crime because of a collection of personality traits that are geared towards violating existing laws or engage in anti-social activities (Paternoster, Jaynes & Wilson, 2017). Besides, the theory is broader than the deterrence theory that mainly focuses on formal functions.
The decision by Walter to murder for money and woman is a clear indication that criminal activities are always calculated decisions that are made after a person has considered the benefits and costs of his choices. Walter was motivated to plot for the murder of the policyholder to benefit from the insurance payout (Rafter & Brown, 2011). Walter knew that the possibility of being accused of killing the policyholder was small because the death occurred from the accident. Nobody would suspect Walter as the killer, and he would end up benefiting from the insurance payout. At the same time, Walter knew that he would inherit the policyholder’s wife, which was another reason why he killed his client. Hence, the benefit of killing the policyholder outweighed the cost, which is an indication that Walter made a rational choice to achieve his self-interests. He was an experienced insurance salesperson who knew how to manipulate the system to benefit from policyholder’s payout, especially after their death.
Therefore, the rational choice theory can be used by criminologists to explain the reasons why people commit a crime. The theory indicates that criminal behaviors are based on rational decisions that are intended to achieve self-interests. Walter Neff who is the main character in the Double Indemnity film confirms that people make criminal choices after comparing benefits and costs of their actions. Even though modern criminologists are likely to argue that not all criminal behaviors are purely rational, both criminal and noncriminal decisions are made after considering benefits and costs or possible punishment. As a result, criminologists can use the theory to explain various criminal activities and behaviors in the society.
References
Deflem, M. (2010). Popular culture, crime, and social control . Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Paternoster, R., Jaynes, C. M., & Wilson, T. (2017). Rational choice theory and interest in the "Fortune of Others." Journal of research in crime and delinquency , 54 (6), 847-868.
Rafter, N. H., & Brown, M. (2011). Criminology goes to the movies: Crime theory and popular culture . NYU Press.
White, G. (2017, May 16). Getting to the Bottom of Americans' Fascination with Wealth. The Atlantic . Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/05/greenfield-generation-wealth/526683/
