elrettentés

Elrettentés is a term used in Hungarian to refer to deterrence, the idea that the threat of negative consequences can prevent certain actions. In law, policy, and security studies, elrettentés describes how penalties, sanctions, or threats of retaliation influence decision making by potential offenders, aggressors, or competitors. The concept is rooted in rational-choice assumptions and aims to change behavior by making the costs of an action outweigh the benefits.

In criminology, elrettentés is commonly analyzed in two forms: general deterrence, which seeks to deter people in society at large from committing crimes by demonstrating that penalties are certain and proportionate; and specific deterrence, which seeks to prevent an already sanctioned individual from repeating offenses.

Key determinants include the perceived certainty of punishment, its swiftness (celerity), and its severity. Contemporary research often finds that certainty and swiftness matter more than severity. Yet empirical results vary by jurisdiction, crime type, and enforcement context; heavy-handed punishments can have unintended consequences such as stigma, social costs, or undermining trust in institutions.

In international relations, deterrence refers to discouraging adversaries from taking actions through the threat of credible retaliation. Nuclear deterrence, conventional deterrence, and deterrence by denial are common subtypes, emphasizing communication, capability, and credibility.

Critics argue that deterrence relies on rational actors and perfect information, and may fail against irrational or misperceiving opponents. It may also encourage arms races or coercive policies with social costs. The effectiveness of elrettentés depends on context, goals, and the balance of costs and benefits for all parties.