Randy Kraft
Randy Kraft
Sotey Thomas
Dr. K. Dowler
California State University Stanislaus
This research paper is based on the actions of the serial killer named Randy Kraft. This paper will contain three separate theories that will be used to describe and possibly answer reasons why he did what he did. The three theories that will be included are rational choice and routine activities from the Choice Theory, the social strain theory from the Social Structure Theory and the social control theories from the Social Process Theory. Randy Kraft was born in 1945 in Long Beach, California. Kraft was the 4th of 5 children and was the only boy. He was very accident prone and clumsy as a young boy but throughout school was very intelligent. Kraft loved politics and wanted to some day possibly pursue a career in it. After high school Kraft graduated from college in economics and scored high on an IQ test (129). He would not go on to fulfill his goals in politics but would soon become a bartender in a gay bar. Kraft was commissioned in the Air Force during the Vietnam War but was stationed at Edwards AFB as an aircraft maintenance superintendent.
Kraft would soon be discharged from the Air Force because of his sexual preferences; he was gay. Kraft enjoyed hanging out at gay bars and his habits included popping pill for headaches and alcohol. Kraft's roommates would soon take notice of his habits of disappearing for 2 to 3 days a week for no apparent reasons. This was definitely behavior that was considered atypical for him. This explanation of behavior should be noted as I explain the theory of rational and routine activities.
The micro approach of rational activities can be described through the behavior patterns of Randy Kraft. Kraft was very unsociable in school and did not seek out to make any friends. Kraft knew he was different from an early age as he became interested in males over females. During the early 1960's this was considered very
Sotey Thomas
Dr. K. Dowler
California State University Stanislaus
This research paper is based on the actions of the serial killer named Randy Kraft. This paper will contain three separate theories that will be used to describe and possibly answer reasons why he did what he did. The three theories that will be included are rational choice and routine activities from the Choice Theory, the social strain theory from the Social Structure Theory and the social control theories from the Social Process Theory. Randy Kraft was born in 1945 in Long Beach, California. Kraft was the 4th of 5 children and was the only boy. He was very accident prone and clumsy as a young boy but throughout school was very intelligent. Kraft loved politics and wanted to some day possibly pursue a career in it. After high school Kraft graduated from college in economics and scored high on an IQ test (129). He would not go on to fulfill his goals in politics but would soon become a bartender in a gay bar. Kraft was commissioned in the Air Force during the Vietnam War but was stationed at Edwards AFB as an aircraft maintenance superintendent.
Kraft would soon be discharged from the Air Force because of his sexual preferences; he was gay. Kraft enjoyed hanging out at gay bars and his habits included popping pill for headaches and alcohol. Kraft's roommates would soon take notice of his habits of disappearing for 2 to 3 days a week for no apparent reasons. This was definitely behavior that was considered atypical for him. This explanation of behavior should be noted as I explain the theory of rational and routine activities.
The micro approach of rational activities can be described through the behavior patterns of Randy Kraft. Kraft was very unsociable in school and did not seek out to make any friends. Kraft knew he was different from an early age as he became interested in males over females. During the early 1960's this was considered very
References: Akers, R. & Sellers, C. Criminological Theories. 4th edition. Los Angeles, Ca. RoxburyPublishing Company. 2004. Stimson, G. The Cincinnati Crime Book, Peasenhall Press Inc. 1998 Daire, P Hickey, W. Eric. Serial Murderers and Their Victims. 3rd edition. Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth Thompson Learning, 2000. Dowler, K. Class Notes, Theoretical Perspectives. 2004