Aggression (AO1)

Question 1

What are dispositional explanations for aggression? In what context can they explain it?

Outline research into importation model (DeLisi, 2011)

Answer 1

Argue that aggression occurs due to an individual’s characteristics and personality.

Attempts to explain why aggression occurs in prisons

Question 2

Outline research into importation model (DeLisi, 2011)

Answer 2

• P: Case studies were made on roughly 800 juvenile inmates in California. These already had on their records, various traumas including, abuse, substance abuse and various negative experiences
• F: These inmates were much more likely to have been reported to the prison board regarding behaviours such as self-harm, violence against other inmates and suicidal tendencies.
• C: There may be a link between these negative life events/dispositional features and aggressive behaviour.

Question 3

What are situational explanations for aggression? In what context can they explain it?

Answer 3

Identifies causes of behaviour within the environment, like other people or aspects of prison life.

Attempts to explain why aggression occurs in prisons.

Question 4

Outline research into the deprivation model model (Steiner, 2009)

Answer 4

• P: Over 500 prisons were analysed based on various aspects of prison life.
• F: There were more reported violent incidents in prisons with higher number of female guards and larger populations of black or hispanic inmates.
• C: The study reliably predicted aggressive behaviour in line with the deprivation model.