Questions about the Literature Review
Human trafficking is a problem that permeates across various institutions and takes in multiple forms. Human trafficking can take various forms and include a wide range of processes, practices, and pathways. In most cases, the factors that increase vulnerability to human trafficking seem interconnected in various ways. The rational choice theory provides a theoretical framework that explains why individuals chose to engage in such crimes, such as human trafficking. The literature review will provide an in-depth exploration of the rational choice theory and how it has evolved to explain the motivations behind crime and delinquency.
The rational choice theory views criminals as rational human beings who chose to engage in criminal activities based on their evaluations of costs and benefits that come along with perpetrating crimes or deterring them. These rational beings make decisions out of the free will after a thorough assessment of opportunities, possible situations, and circumstances that would facilitate or hinder them from perpetrating crimes (Lutya, 2012). In some cases, the decision-making process may also involve identifying crime victims depending on such factors as planned crimes, location of a crime, the time a crime is to be committed, and the method of operation. This implies that criminals do not merely go to commit a crime; instead, they begin by making observations on the appropriate modus operandi, accessibility to their target victims, convenient time to commit crimes, and the best location to target their victims.
In this literature review, the rational choice theory will specifically focus on four variables, which include rational decision-making, cost variable, benefits, and free will. An exploration of these variables will form the basis for the development of a theoretical framework to elucidate the issue of human trafficking and why it has persisted across the various social spheres. The point of focus will be on providing a theoretical explanation for issues such as vulnerability to human trafficking, identification of potential victims, and cost/benefit assessments among human traffickers.