Institutional Aggression

Question 1

What is institutional aggression

Answer 1

Aggressive or violent behaviour that takes place within the context of a formal organised setting

Question 2

What is meant by a dispositional explanation

Answer 2

Highlights the cause of a particular behaviour as being due to the characteristics of the individual (their disposition) rather than any aspect of the situation

Question 3

What is meant by a situational explanation

Answer 3

Highlights the cause of a particular behaviour as being due to the context in which it occurs rather than the characteristics of the individual

Question 4

Explain Irwin and Cressey’s (1962) importation model as a dispositional explanation for institutional aggression

Answer 4

• inmates import their beliefs, values, norms, attitudes and personal characteristics such as race, gender and class into the prison
• prisoners have violent and aggressive experiences outside of the prison resulting in violent and aggressive behaviours inside the prison
• these aggressive behaviours are imported as a means of navigating and negotiating their way through the prison environment and therefore the use of aggression helps to establish power, status, influence and access to resources

Question 5

Explain how research by DeLisi et al. (2011) shows support for the importation model

Answer 5

Juvenile offenders with negative backgrounds (eg. Experiences of childhood trauma, high levels of anger and irritability, a history of substance abuse etc.) were more likely to engage in suicidal activity and sexual misconduct, and committed more acts of physical violence

Question 6

Explain Clemmer’s (1958) deprivation model as a situational explanation for institutional aggression

Answer 6

• the harsh, oppressive prison conditions and the extreme deprivation leads to stress/frustration and lack of stimulation for inmates who resort to aggression to cope (adaptive solution)
• psychological factors inmates are deprived of include freedom, autonomy, safety, independence and sexual intimacy
• deprivation of material goods and services increases competition amongst inmates

Question 7

Explain how research by Steiner (2009) shows support for the deprivation model

Answer 7

Inmate-on-inmate violence was more common in prions where there were higher proportions of female staff, black and Hispanic inmates and inmates in protective custody for their own safety

Question 8

How can the interaction it’s approach be used to explain institutional aggression

Answer 8

1. Importation model- better explanation of violence between inmates
2. Deprivation model- better explanation of aggression against prison staff