The roots of rational choice theory are contained in the classical school of criminology. According to classical theory, the purpose of the law is to produce and support the total happiness of the community it serves. Punishment is designed to prevent crime and if punishment cannot prevent crime then punishment is to convince the offender to commit a less serious offense.

According to rational choice theory, crime is an event and criminality is a personal trait. Several personal factors condition people to choose crime. Among these are economic opportunity, learning and experience, and knowledge of criminal techniques. Rational choice theorists propose that offenders choose the type of crime to commit, choose the time and place of the crime, and choose the target of crime.

The foundations of trait theory are found in Cesare Lombroso’s work and biological theory. Many criminologists reacted harshly to the crime-biology link; this reaction was called biophobia. Sociobiology developed later stressing that biological and genetic conditioning influence how social behaviors are learned and perceived. Sociobiologists argued that the gene is the ultimate unit of life that controls human destiny. Under this argument, since biology controls human behavior, it is responsible for a person’s choice to violate the law.

Modern trait theories are not overly concerned with the legal definitions of crime. Trait theorists focus on human behavior and drives and argue that traits do not produce criminality. Rather, crime involves both personal traits and environmental factors. Chronic offenders suffer some biological/psychological condition or trait that renders them incapable of resisting social pressures and problems.