Introduction
There are multiple theories in criminology that aim to explain the unlawful actions of criminals. The rational choice theory is based on the premise or rationalization of benefits versus cost, which ultimately influences the decision-making process. Thus, the outcomes are direct results of rational choices in which the criminals pick the option that is most rewarding and less harmful as perceived by them. Based on the case of the Canadian serial killer Paul Bernardo, this paper will argue that the rational choice theory can explain why the crimes were committed. Moreover, media coverage will be discussed in regards to the portrayal of the case and the offenders.
Overview
In order for the rationality of the crimes to be identified and examined, it is important to provide an overview of the violent offenses that made Paul Bernardo one of the most infamous serial killers in Canada. Bernardo, alongside his wife, Karla Homolka, sexually assaulted 18 women and killed 3 (Wickenheiser, 2021). The assaults, rapes, and murders are often attributed to Bernardo’s psychopathy, yet a certain pattern can be determined, which suggests that the crimes were rationalized and correlate with the rational choice theory.
Rational Choice Theory
The rational choice theory in criminology illustrates that individuals commit offenses based on the weighing in of means and ends. Thus, the action that is being taken is one that is perceived as having the highest utility for the perpetrator (Paternoster et al., 2017). In order for the implications of the framework in Paul Bernardo’s case to be identified, it is essential to examine what factors the individual views as rewarding and which ones are perceived as punishable, hence, negative. In terms of the costs, a prison sentence is the main factor that can stop a person from committing a crime. However, since Bernardo sexually assaulted and murdered several women, it is certain that the benefits were perceived as more crucial than the potential arrest. In this case, the explanation suggests that Bernardo’s aim was to receive satisfaction from the crimes that were committed while rationalizing the options for the minimization of possible costs. As a result, the serial killer managed to rationalize the murders and rapes by ensuring low danger and negative consequences.
One example of how rational choice theory can be applied is the lack of involvement of the police. According to researchers, Bernardo’s case is an illustration of uncoordinated and ineffective police work, especially since the killer’s DNA sample was collected but unchecked years before he was finally captured (McKenna, 2018). Thus, Bernardo’s rational idea of avoiding police became more relevant when even after the law enforcement had his DNA, the criminal was not punished or caught. As a result, rationality suggested the danger to be unsubstantiated due to the lack of involvement from the police officers. As mentioned prior, the serial killer operated based on the rational choice theory, and in this case, the punishment of being incarcerated became redundant since no follow-up procedures were performed to match the sample to the criminal. As a result, a logical chain of events that followed was a continuation of crimes, including rapes and murder, since no negative outcome was associated with the deeds.
Another explanation of the rational choice theory being applied to the case of Paul Bernardo is the pattern of the crimes. First, it is important to mention that the killing of his wife’s sister, Tammy Homolka, was framed as an accident (McAleese, 2019). Thus, both Bernardo and Karla Homolka were aware of the consequences and tried to frame the murder in a way that they would not be affected. This illustrates how the serial killer was rational in terms of understanding the repercussions and actively trying to avoid them. This, indeed, worked since both Homolka and Bernardo were captured years later. The killers were making sure the victims would be blindfolded and unable to identify them, which also portrays the picture of rational thinking and an effort to avoid prison. These actions fit into the paradigm of rationality in decision-making processes since all the actions performed with the intent to hide evidence suggests a sense of rationality was present.
It is also essential to mention that Bernardo was a serial rapist, and the murders were less frequent. This may highlight that the intent of the criminal was sexual gratification, and the murders were illustrations of the intent to remain unidentified or a solution to the situations that escalated from the standard behavior of the killer. According to researchers, individuals are more likely to commit crimes that are intrinsically rewarding but less risky (Thomas et al., 2020). This correlates with the criminal’s pattern of sexual assault and violence, which prevailed compared to the number of victims who were murdered.
Firstly, such crimes are punished less harshly or remain unaddressed. Due to the fact that victims are often apprehensive in regards to going to the police after being raped, the criminal may have rationalized that such behavior is less likely to lead to Bernardo receiving a prison sentence. Secondly, rape was present in most of the couple’s crimes, while killing was less frequent. This highlights that sexual gratification was the main driving factor that allowed Bernardo to rationalize that giving in to his desires is more rewarding than avoiding the violence altogether. As a result, rational choice, in this case, does not imply that the criminal does not view incarceration as a severe repercussion. Instead, the sexual assault, which gives the serial killer fulfillment and satisfaction, is worth being carried out despite the punishment that can follow.
Based on the premises of the rational choice theory, the person committing the crimes is mindful of the actions, yet in their value systems, the satisfaction or benefits outweigh the negative implications. In the case of Paul Bernardo and his wife, Karla Homolka, the deviances created the circumstances in which the sexual assaults and murders were justifiable despite understanding the repercussions of being caught. The theory does not minimize urges and emotions altogether since it is clear that Bernardo was driven by harmful desire. However, the actions themselves are results of rational thinking and are elevated by the understanding that the police are not particularly effective. Moreover, as mentioned prior, the fact that not all assaults have resulted in murders and some victims were blindfolded highlights premeditation. This is directly linked to rationality and the complete understanding that a victim identifying the criminal will lead to a prison sentence.
Media Coverage
Needless to say, there were multiple Canadian serial killers who were widely discussed in the media and became infamous for the crimes they have committed. However, Bernardo and Homolka were the murderers that have been in international news for the atrocities discovered during the court case and the circumstances of the murders and rapes. First, only US media was allowed to cover the cases, yet eventually, both Bernardo and Homolka became figures of evil as portrayed in Canadian media. There were several reasons why the two serial killers became so infamous and often mentioned in the news, TV shows, and newspapers. First, as mentioned prior, Homolka’s sister was one of the victims who were murdered, which emphasized the atrocities performed by the couple. While initially, such actions may not appear to correlate with the rational choice theory since the victim and the killers were in close relationships, the murder was framed to look like an accident, which the media also published. Thus, the sensational news that a serial killer and his wife killed her sister after raping her became a story that was widely discussed in the press.
Another aspect that has drawn even more media attention was the presence of explicit videos in which the couple assaulted, raped, and killed girls. Videos were shown in court, which the press found out about and highlighted in reports (Regehr et al., 2022). The existence of video evidence not only proves the guaranteed guilt of the criminals but also creates more publicity for the situation due to the public’s interest. Performing the crime is perceived as evil in itself, yet the pragmatic and rational idea of documenting it on film allowed media to create an even more negative image of both Bernardo and Homolka.
Last but not least, the public was interested in the story due to the incompetence of the police and the understanding that the criminals would have been caught much earlier. It is certain that most people want to feel safe and protected by law enforcement. However, the way police officers handled the situation and did not prevent future atrocities showed the public the flaws within the system. The media was not only successful in making the crimes public but also focused on showcasing the reasons why the atrocities have not been addressed. In this case, the police would be able to detain Bernardo and his wife after thoughtfully investigating the death of Homolka’s minor sister, checking the DNA sample provided by the serial killer, or paying close attention to the victims who described the rapist. Instead, Bernardo managed to avoid incarceration, resulting in multiple more rapes and murders to take place before, finally, the atrocities were linked to him. Thus, the general opinion formed after the media’s extensive portrayal of the case was focused both on the crimes and the lack of involvement of the police officers.
Conclusion
The infamous Canadian serial killer Paul Bernardo has committed multiple violent crimes, yet rational choice can explain the course of events that have led to such outcomes. Based on the premises of this particular theory, the criminal was aware of his actions and decided to commit the atrocities because Bernardo’s value system allowed him to justify the satisfaction. The killer’s actions, while seemingly passion-driven, have been rationalized, which can be explained by the prevalence of rapes over murders and the efforts to avoid police encounters when covering tracks and framing the murders to look like accidents. The media portrayal of the case has been extensive, and there are also several reasons that explain such coverage. Since one of the killings involved Bernardo’s wife’s sister, there were videotapes, and police did not respond accordingly; the public was interested in the case. Thus, rational choice theory explains the crimes committed by Bernardo, and the public was drawn to the publicity aspect of the court hearings due to the multiple circumstances portraying Bernardo’s situation as a particularly atrocious one.
References
McAleese, S. (2019). Suspension, not expungement: Rationalizing misguided policy decisions around cannabis amnesty in Canada. Canadian Public Administration, 62(4), 612–633. Web.
McKenna, P. F. (2018). Evidence-based policing in Canada. Canadian Public Administration, 61(1). Web.
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. Web.
Regehr, C., Regehr, K., & Birze, A. (2022). Traumatic residue, mediated remembering and video evidence of sexual violence: A case study.International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 81, 101778. Web.
Thomas, K. J., Loughran, T. A., & Hamilton, B. C. (2020). Perceived arrest risk, psychic rewards, and offense specialization: A partial test of rational choice theory. Criminology, 58(3), 485–509. Web.
Wickenheiser, R. A. (2021). Reimagining forensic science – the mission of the forensic laboratory. Forensic Science International: Synergy, 3, 100153. Web.