Rational Choice Theory
Theory that voters seek out information about issues, then vote for the person they believe will advance their policy preference.
Rational Choice Theory (RCT) is a social theory that seeks to explain human behavior as a product of rational and self-interested decision-making. It is commonly used in economics, political science, and sociology, among other fields. At its core, RCT assumes that individuals are rational actors who make decisions that maximize their self-interest and utility.
According to RCT, individuals make decisions by carefully weighing the costs and benefits of various options in order to choose the option that will provide them with the greatest benefits at the lowest cost. Costs and benefits can be tangible or intangible, and can include things like monetary gain, emotional reward, and social prestige.
However, RCT is not without its criticisms. Some argue that it oversimplifies human behavior by assuming that individuals only act in their own self-interest, and that it fails to take into account other factors that may influence our decision-making, such as social norms and cultural values.
Overall, while there are criticisms of RCT, it remains a popular and influential theory in social sciences, particularly in explaining individual behavior in markets and certain political processes.
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