institutional aggression

Question 1

dispositional explanation

Answer 1

the individuals traits and characteristics are the main factors in any aggression displayed by them

Question 2

what does the importation model suggest?

Answer 2

• people import their traits and characteristics into the prison when they enter
• if a person is from a subculture where violence is the norm, they’ll continue to be aggressive in prison
• the model is useful as it can explain higher levels of aggression by people with certain characteristics like gender, race and social class
• younger inmates often find it harder to adjust to prison life and act more aggressively

Question 3

give a strength of dispositional explanations
1/1

Answer 3

adams (1981) found in american prisons black inmates were more likely to be linked to violence compared to white inmates. they argued that they came from poorer backgrounds with higher rates of crime, so imported this into the prison

Question 4

give a limitation of dispositional explanations
1/2

Answer 4

delisi (2004) studied 813 US inmates and found no correlation between prison violence and previous gang membership. since the importation model says violence is more likely to be imported into prisons by those with a history and culture of aggression, however, this study contradicts this, conflicting the dispositional explanation

Question 5

give a limitation of dispositional explanations
2/2

Answer 5

most research is done on male prisoners so little is known about female violence in prisons. it would be androcentric to assume the same reasons for male violence can be used to explain female violence, other factors may influence female aggression in prisons. therefore research may have a beta bias

Question 6

situational explanation

Answer 6

• aggression in prisons is due to environmental factors
• the crowded conditions conditions of prisons cause stress which can lead to aggression

Question 7

sykes’ (1958) environmental deprivations

Answer 7

• deprivation of liberty = freedom is removed
• deprivation of autonomy = no power and few choices
• deprivation of goods = physical belongings are taken
• deprivation of hetero relationships = makes men feel emasculated, the greater chance of homosexual behaviour can cause anxiety
• deprivation of security = live in fear of aggression from other inmates

Question 8

give a strength of situational explanations
1/2

Answer 8

gaes et al (1985) found overcrowding in prisoners can cause ill health and general misconduct as well as aggression and violence. they say that overcrowding heightens stress causing overreactions

Question 9

give a strength of situational explanations
2/2

Answer 9

there are practical applications to understanding the effects of the prison environment on aggression. wilson (2005) set up 2 prison units where overcrowding was reduced, music was introduced and temperature was carefully controlled. he found that this successfully reduced levels of aggression

Question 10

give a limitation of situational explanations
1/1

Answer 10

camp and gaes 92005) randomly allocated 561 male inmates to either a high or low security prison. they found that the prisoners were just as likely to act aggressively in the low security prison (33%) as the high security prison (36%). suggests that aggression is more likely due to the individuals than the environment