Institutional Aggression Flashcards
What is institutional aggression?
Aggression that occurs and becomes the norm in any form of institution
Two models that have been proposed to explain institutional aggression
Deprivation model
Importation model
Importation model
Irwin and Cressey claim that prisoners bring their aggression with them - they bring in their experiences, social histories and their traits which may effect how they adapt to prison life
Support for importation model
Harer and Steffensmeier collected info from 52 US prisons and found. Black inmates had higher rates of violent behaviour and lower rates of alcohol and drug misconduct, which mirrored behaviour in society. Shows that people bring in aggressive behaviour
Importation model is also supported by
Mills et al. Found inmates who had a higher level of alcohol dependency were associated with greater levels of aggression
Problem with importation model
Culturally biased as it was carried out either in western prisons or prisons run by western powers
Deprivation model
Sykes - aggression is due to the conditions rather than the person
Support for deprivation model
Hodgkinson found that trainee staff were assaulted more frequently than experienced staff suggesting attack due to frustration
ALSO - milgram and Zimbardo
Problem with deprivation model
Nijman found that increased space in mental institution didn’t lower levels of violence
Probable that both models are needed. How?
It is probably that the type of institution involved would dictate which model and indeed which aspect of that model was most appropriate to explain institutional aggression
Problems with both models
Simplistic. Factors could include genes And hormones
Gender biased
Deterministic
Problems with studying institutional aggression
- ethics
- terrible memories
