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1. RATIONAL CHOICE
THEORY

2. 3.
RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY
Rational choice theory is the view that people behave as they do because
they believe that performing their chosen actions has more benefits than
costs.

3. GARY BECKER
popularized by a 1992 Nobel
Memorial Prize Laureate (Awardee) in
Economics Science, Gary Becker,
who was one of the first to apply
rational actor models more widely.

4. RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY
• Elster (1989) stated the essence of rational
choice theory when he said that “when
faced with several courses of action, people
usually do what they believe is likely to have
the best overall outcome”

5. RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY
every choice that is made is completed by first
considering the costs, risks and benefits of
making that decision.
Choices that seem irrational to one person may
make perfect sense to another based on the
individual’s desires.

6. RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY
This theory states that individuals use their self-
interests to make choices that will provide them
with the greatest benefit.
People weigh their options and make the choice
they think will serve them best.

7. RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY
How individuals decide what will serve them
best is dependent on personal preferences.

8. RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY
For example, one individual may decide that abstaining from
smoking is best for them because they want to protect their
health.

9. RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY
Another individual will decide
they want to smoke because it
relieves their stress. Although
the choices are opposite, both
individuals make these choices
to get the best result for
themselves.

10. RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY
rational choice theory states that there is always
a rational justification for behaviors. Individuals
try to maximize their rewards because they’re
worth the cost.

11. ASSUMPTIONS OFTHE
RATIONALCHOICE THEORY
✘ INDIVIDUALISM
✘ OPTIMALITY
✘ STRUCTURES
✘ RATIONALITY

13. INDIVIDUALISM
it is individuals who ultimately take actions.
Individuals, as actors in the society and everywhere,
behave and act always as rational beings, self-
calculating, self-interested and self-maximizing, the
individual’s social actions are the ultimate source of
larger social outcomes.

14. OPTIMALITY
Individual choose their actions optimally, given their
individual preferences as well as the opportunities or
constraints with which the individual faced.
Abell (2000) defines optimality as taking place
when no other course of social action would be
preferred by the individual over the course of action
the individual has chosen.

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17. OPTIMALITY
The rational choice theory, therefore assumes,
according to Abell (2000), that individuals “do
the best they can, given their circumstances as
they see them”.

18. Structures
Abell argues that structures and norms that dictate a
single course of action are merely special cases of
rational choice theory.
Although these structures may be damaging to the
rational choice model, individuals will often find a
way to exercise action optimally, hence the rational
choice model may not necessarily show harmony,
consensus, or equality in courses of action.

19. RATIONALITY
The most predominant assumption of the rational
theory.
All individuals, according to this assumption act in
ways that would benefit them more; every
individual is most like to undertake courses of actions
that they perceive to be the best possible option and
one that would immensely be to their own
advantage.

20. ASSUMPTIONS OFTHE
RATIONALCHOICE THEORY
✘ All actions are rational and are made due to considering costs and
rewards.
✘ The reward of a relationship or action must outweigh the cost for
the action to be completed.
✘ When the value of the reward diminishes below the value of the
costs incurred, the person will stop the action or end the
relationship.
✘ Individuals will use the resources at their disposal to optimize their
rewards.

21. ASSUMPTIONS OFTHE
RATIONALCHOICE THEORY
✘ Rational choice theory expresses that individuals are in
control of their decisions. They don’t make choices
because of unconscious drives, tradition or
environmental influences. They use rational
considerations to weigh consequences and potential
benefits.

22. Strengths and weaknesses of rational
choice theory
✘ Rational choice theory also helps to explain seemingly
“irrational” behavior. Because rational choice theory
states that all behavior is rational, any type of action
can be examined for underlying rational motivations.
Rational choice theory can promote inquiry and
understanding, helping differing parties, like a client
and a therapist, to recognize the other’s rationale.

23. Strengths and weaknesses of rational
choice theory
✘ A limitation of rational choice theory is that it focuses
on individual action. While one could say that
individual action drives large social structures, some
rational choice theory critics argue the theory is too
limited in its explanation.

24. Strengths and weaknesses of rational
choice theory
✘ Another weakness of rational choice theory is that it
doesn’t account for intuitive reasoning or instinct. For
decisions that must be made in an instant, such as
decisions that influence survival, there may not be time
to weigh the costs and benefits.

25. Applications of rational choice theory
Rational choice theory has a wide variety of applications in all
types of spheres affecting human populations.
✘ Economics and business: Rational choice theory can explain
individual purchasing behaviors.
✘ Politics: Rational choice theory can be used to explain voting
behaviors, the actions of politicians and how political issues are
handled.

26. ASSUMPTIONS OFTHE
RATIONALCHOICE THEORY
✘ Sociology: Rational choice theory can explain social
phenomena. This is because all social change and institutions
occur because of individual actions.
✘ Addiction treatment: Rational choice theory can be used to
identify addiction motivations and provide substance
alternatives that are equally beneficial to patients.

27. https://www.onlinemswprograms.com/social-
work/theories/rational-choice-theory/
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