
Contents
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
I. How We Define and Learn About Weapon Use in Crime I. How We Define and Learn About Weapon Use in Crime
-
A. Definition A. Definition
-
B. Measuring and Examining the Carrying and Use of Weapons B. Measuring and Examining the Carrying and Use of Weapons
-
-
II. A Rational Interpretation of Weapon Carrying and Use II. A Rational Interpretation of Weapon Carrying and Use
-
A. The Decision-Making Stages of Weapon Use A. The Decision-Making Stages of Weapon Use
-
B. The Decision to Use a Weapon: Rationality and Intentions B. The Decision to Use a Weapon: Rationality and Intentions
-
-
III. The Utility of Weapons III. The Utility of Weapons
-
A. Benefits A. Benefits
-
B. Costs B. Costs
-
C. Victim Risk Calculus C. Victim Risk Calculus
-
-
IV. Why Offenders Choose to Carry and Use Weapons IV. Why Offenders Choose to Carry and Use Weapons
-
A. Weapons and Intentions A. Weapons and Intentions
-
1. Lethality, Incompetence, and the Uncertainty of Criminal Interactions 1. Lethality, Incompetence, and the Uncertainty of Criminal Interactions
-
2. Decisions About Weapons of Choice 2. Decisions About Weapons of Choice
-
3. “Weapon Instrumentality” 3. “Weapon Instrumentality”
-
-
B. Theories of Weapon Carrying and Weapon Use B. Theories of Weapon Carrying and Weapon Use
-
1. Theories of Weapon Carrying 1. Theories of Weapon Carrying
-
2. Theories of Weapon Use 2. Theories of Weapon Use
-
a. Weapon Use as Rational a. Weapon Use as Rational
-
b. Weapon Use Reflects a Violent Disposition b. Weapon Use Reflects a Violent Disposition
-
c. Weapon Use as a Consequence of Differential Association c. Weapon Use as a Consequence of Differential Association
-
-
-
-
V. How Weapon Use Affects the Success of a Crime V. How Weapon Use Affects the Success of a Crime
-
A. Responding to Resistance: Offender Decision Making During Robbery A. Responding to Resistance: Offender Decision Making During Robbery
-
-
VI. Conclusion VI. Conclusion
-
References References
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
20 High Stakes: The Role of Weapons in Offender Decision Making
Get accessIain R. Brennan is a senior lecturer in criminology and psychology at the University of Hull. His research interests include weapon use, alcohol-related violence, and victim responses to crime.
-
Published:06 June 2017
Cite
Abstract
This chapter describes the contradictory roles that weapons play in offender decision making as mechanisms that can both increase the physical harm to a victim of violence and also reduce the need for physical harm in victims of robbery. Because weapons serve simultaneously offensive and defensive purposes, the way in which offenders carry and use weapons is subject to a complex decision-making process. This process is presented and interpreted from a rational perspective, incorporating an offender’s calculation of potential benefits and costs as well as the uncertainty of a victim’s response. A rational analysis of weapon carrying and use is presented along with research evidence suggesting that culture and availability are important influences on weapon of choice and weapon-related behavior. The chapter concludes with a review of the effectiveness of weapons in reducing victim resistance and retaliation showing that weapon use is a high-reward/high-cost activity.
Sign in
Personal account
- Sign in with email/username & password
- Get email alerts
- Save searches
- Purchase content
- Activate your purchase/trial code
- Add your ORCID iD
Purchase
Our books are available by subscription or purchase to libraries and institutions.
Purchasing informationMonth: | Total Views: |
---|---|
October 2022 | 8 |
November 2022 | 1 |
December 2022 | 5 |
January 2023 | 5 |
February 2023 | 2 |
March 2023 | 2 |
April 2023 | 2 |
June 2023 | 5 |
July 2023 | 2 |
August 2023 | 1 |
September 2023 | 9 |
October 2023 | 14 |
November 2023 | 8 |
January 2024 | 2 |
February 2024 | 1 |
March 2024 | 7 |
April 2024 | 6 |
May 2024 | 2 |
June 2024 | 4 |
July 2024 | 2 |
August 2024 | 1 |
September 2024 | 2 |
October 2024 | 7 |
December 2024 | 2 |
January 2025 | 4 |
March 2025 | 3 |
April 2025 | 9 |
Get help with access
Institutional access
Access to content on Oxford Academic is often provided through institutional subscriptions and purchases. If you are a member of an institution with an active account, you may be able to access content in one of the following ways:
IP based access
Typically, access is provided across an institutional network to a range of IP addresses. This authentication occurs automatically, and it is not possible to sign out of an IP authenticated account.
Sign in through your institution
Choose this option to get remote access when outside your institution. Shibboleth/Open Athens technology is used to provide single sign-on between your institution’s website and Oxford Academic.
If your institution is not listed or you cannot sign in to your institution’s website, please contact your librarian or administrator.
Sign in with a library card
Enter your library card number to sign in. If you cannot sign in, please contact your librarian.
Society Members
Society member access to a journal is achieved in one of the following ways:
Sign in through society site
Many societies offer single sign-on between the society website and Oxford Academic. If you see ‘Sign in through society site’ in the sign in pane within a journal:
If you do not have a society account or have forgotten your username or password, please contact your society.
Sign in using a personal account
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members. See below.
Personal account
A personal account can be used to get email alerts, save searches, purchase content, and activate subscriptions.
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members.
Viewing your signed in accounts
Click the account icon in the top right to:
Signed in but can't access content
Oxford Academic is home to a wide variety of products. The institutional subscription may not cover the content that you are trying to access. If you believe you should have access to that content, please contact your librarian.
Institutional account management
For librarians and administrators, your personal account also provides access to institutional account management. Here you will find options to view and activate subscriptions, manage institutional settings and access options, access usage statistics, and more.