Institutional Aggression in Prisons

Question 1

Situational Explanation - Deprivation Model

Answer 1

Paterline & Peterson - Institutional aggression is the product of stressful, oppressive conditions of the prison itself. In response to this, inmates act more aggressively.
Skyes- specific deprivations inmates face (loss of liberty, loss of autonomy & loss of security) are linked to inmate aggression. Inmates cope with this by either withdrawing to their cell, or rebelling in the form of aggression towards prison staff and inmates.
Kimmet & Martin - study of over 200 inmates, found that violence in prison is a way of surviving exploitation. Most violent situations in prison were to do with non-material interests such as need for respect and fairness or a way of expressing loyalty and honour.

Question 2

Situational Explanation - Role of Prison Characteristics

Answer 2

Cooke - to understand institutional aggression, we need to consider the situational context where violence occurs. These include: overcrowding (gov report from Ministry of Justice in 2014 showed that records of murder, suicide, and assaults