What is considered a necessary component of crime prior to its occurrence?

Rationalization is recognized as a necessary component of crime prior to its occurrence because it involves the thought processes that individuals engage in to justify or excuse their dishonest actions. Before committing a crime, potential offenders often create mental narratives that make their decisions seem acceptable. This can include minimizing the perceived severity of the act or believing that they are justified in their behavior due to circumstances, which enables them to overcome internal and moral objections to committing the crime.

In contrast, while planning can also play a role in the commission of crimes, rationalization specifically addresses the psychological aspect that precedes the actual act. Planning would imply the organizational steps an individual takes to execute a crime, but it requires the prior justification—a form of rationalization—for the crime to even be considered. Intimidation pertains more to influencing others and does not apply directly to the individual’s internal justification process prior to committing a crime. Crime scene investigation occurs after a crime has been committed and thus does not relate to the components before a crime occurs.

Thus, understanding rationalization helps identify the cognitive processes that facilitate criminal behavior, making it a necessary element before the crime takes place.