[A] Institutional models

Question 1

How do institutional explanations of aggression see aggression as a result of?

Answer 1

Situational or dispositional factors.

Question 2

Is the importation model a situational or dispositional model?

Answer 2

Dispositional.

Question 3

Who developed the importation model?

Answer 3

Irwin and Cressey.

Question 4

Why do Irwin and Cressey say aggression occurs?

Answer 4

Prisoners bring aggressive behaviour with them into the institution.

Question 5

What did Cheeseman suggest?

Answer 5

Those who go to prison have a certain way of behaving, and when in prison simply apply this to their new environment.

Question 6

What did Toch state?

Answer 6

All prisons inherit their subcultural sediments from the street corners that supply them with clients.

Question 7

What did Mills, Kroner and Weekes find?

Answer 7

Those admitted to prison with high alcohol dependence were more aggressive.

Question 8

What did Kane and Janus find increases aggression in prisons?

Answer 8

Greater periods of unemployment, low education and more serious criminal records.

Question 9

How do demographic variables affect aggression in prisons?

Answer 9

Prisoners become disenfranchised, meaning they lose society’s norms and join an aggressive subculture.

Question 10

What are the three subcultures Irwin and Cressey identified?

Answer 10

Criminal/thieft - values being able to trust other inmates and fellow criminals are their primary reference group.
Convict - raised in the prison system, and look for influence and power within the system.
Straight - one time offenders, who identify with staff and officers.

Question 11

Give three advantages of the importation model.

Answer 11

1. Demographic differences in aggression shown by Hara and Steffensmeier who showed that black males were more violent but less alcohol dependent.

Question 12

Give three weaknesses of the importation model.

Answer 12

1. Does not suggest how to manage aggression.
2. No evidence on female aggression.
3. Does not explain why people are aggressive on the outside.

Question 13

Is the deprivation model a situational or dispositional model?

Answer 13

Situational.

Question 14

What does the deprivation model suggest?

Answer 14

Subcultures originate within the institution and not outside it.

Question 15

Who developed the deprivation model?

Answer 15

Sykes (1958).

Question 16

What are the five deprivations Sykes states cause aggression?

Answer 16

Liberty, autonomy, goods and services, heterosexual relationships and security.

Question 17

Give three strengths of the deprivation model.

Answer 17

1. Most research is observational giving a true view of prison life.
2. Suggests causes for the aggression.
3. Indirectly suggests remedies for the aggression (removing deprivations).

Question 18

Give three weaknesses of the deprivation model.

Answer 18

1. Does not explain why sudden, unprovoked riots occur.
2. Does not specify which or how many deprivations cause aggression.
3. Conditions in prison have changed since Sykes was writing so the theory may be outdated.