Institutional Aggression In the Context of Prisons

Question 1

Define Institutional Aggression.

Answer 1

• Aggressive or violent behaviour that takes place within the social context of a prison or other formal organised setting

Question 2

What is a dispositional explanation?

Answer 2

• An explanation of behaviour that highlights the importance of the individuals personality

Question 3

What is a situational explanation?

Answer 3

• An explanation that idenitfys the cause of behaviour as exisiting within the environment which may include other people

Such explanations are contrasted with dispositional explanations

Question 4

What is the importation model and who came up with it?

Answer 4

• Irwin & Cressey
• offenders ‘import’ (bring in) their personality to the prison and engage in behaviours in line with their personality (including their past experiences)
• The importation model assumes that if an individual enters a prison with a history of violent & abusive behaviour then this will be seen in their behaviour inside the prison
• i.e. they are simply adhering to what is for them a set of personal norms

Question 5

What is the deprivation model and who came up with it?

Answer 5

• Sykes (1958)
• The deprivation model assumes that prisons are stressful environments in which bullying, abuse, depression, isolation & distance from loved-ones & material comforts all combine to promote aggression

Situational explanations have some relevance to the frustration-aggression hypothesis i.e. it is frustrating to be obstructed from pursuing one’s daily activities, to be locked up for hours on end

A key situational factor which contributes to aggressive behaviour in prisons is that of overcrowding as this exacerbates the negative effects of prison life and may link to the idea of de-individuation as a factor in aggression (e.g. loss of self-awareness and identity in a crowd)

Question 6

What research is there that investigates institutional aggression in the context of prisons?

Answer 6

• Cunningham et al. (2010) found that 35 prison homicides in Texas could be explained via the deprivation model e.g. fights about possessions, homosexual relationships, drugs
• DeLisi et al. (2011) - From a sample of 2,520 male offenders it was found that family background/upbringing was a strong influence on dispositional aggression and rule-breaking within the prison

Question 7

Give two strengths of instiutionalised aggression in the context of prisons.

Answer 7

• Both the importation & deprivation models have been supported by a body of research & by real-world examples of overcrowding in prisons leading to prison riots
• Both models have good application to possible interventions & therapies which could be used to make life less difficult for both prisoners and prison staff e.g. social skills training, anger management, more space per prisoner

Question 8

Give two weaknesses of instiutionalised aggression in the context of prisons.

Answer 8

• Neither theory really accounts for biological factors as an explanation of aggression in prisons e.g. high levels of testosterone, cortisol and adrenaline
• Some research has challenged the assumptions of the deprivation model e.g. Hensley et al. (2002) found that when prisoners were allowed heterosexual intimacy with their partners on a prison visit it did not result in a reduction in their aggressive behaviour