Topic 6 - Effects of Imprisonment

Question 1

Key Research

Answer 1

Haney et al (1973) - Study of prisoners + guards in a simulated prison

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

To find out whether the situation or the disposition of the individual make prisons brutal.

Focused on the dispositonal side.

Question 3

Sample

Answer 3

24 stable-minded, least criminally inclined mature stanford uni students

50% randomly chosen as guards / 50% randomly chosen as prisoners.

Question 4

Procedure

Answer 4

P’s agreed to their role for 14 days ($15 per day) - signing a contract.

Guards Uniform = Khaki shirt + trousers, whistle, night-stick and reflective sunglasses.

Prisoner’s Uniforms = Loose-fitting smocks with ID numbers, light chain + lock on ankle, rubber sandals + cap.

Prisoners were called by their ID number

Prisoners were ‘arrested’ in their own homes then taken to the ‘prison’ - basement of Stanford Psych Dept.

Question 5

Results / Conclusions

Answer 5

Study was ended after 6 days

Pathological Prisoner Syndrome = Extreme emotional depression, crying rage + acute anxiety.

Pathology of Power = Syndrome of oppressive behaviour that develops in people given the opportunity to extert power over others.

Explanation of prisoner deterioration - 1. Loss of personal identity, 2. Arbitary control of guards 3. Dependency + Emasculation

Social roles hugely impact behaviour - This implies that the structure + organisation of the prison environment leads to brutality

‘normal average’ young men behaved brutally to fit in with their role as guard.

Question 6

Situational Explanation

Answer 6

The way that prisons are organised leads to violence

Question 7

Dispositional Explanation

Answer 7

The nature of prisoners (potential sociopaths) and guards (potential sadists) explains brutality in prisons.

Question 8

Gillis + Nafekh

Answer 8

Investigated the effects of an employment scheme with the Canadian correctional service.

23,525 individuals on conditional release between Jan. 1998 to Jan. 2005 - 95% male.

IV - Employment Scheme vs Not

Investiated - Whether the individual completed their conditional release programme / How long, if they did, did it take them to break probation.

70% completed parole if they had employment programmes vs 58% non programme.

Time taken to reoffend - 37 months (programme) vs 11 months (no programme).

Question 9

Restorative Justice

Answer 9

An offender meets with their victim / family so that the victim is able to explain the impact that the crime has had on them.

Both sides must volunteer to take part.

Aims to create a contract for the offender to complete the actions for their restorative justice.

Question 10

Anger-Management Programmes

Answer 10

A cognitive behavioual model of treatment.

1. Cognitive Prepartation - Learning to identify anger-inducing stimuli
2. Skills Acquisition - Offenders learn relaxation techniques to use when they identify an an anger-inducing stimuls.
3. Application Practice - The previous 2 stages can be practiced with role play to make this a natural response to anger.

In the UK, CALM courses are offered which consist of 24 x 2hr sessions aiming to reduce the frequency, intensity and duration of anger.

Question 11

Community Sentences

Answer 11

Can be given when convicted of a crime but not sent to prison.

Community Packback = Unpaid work in the local community, eg. removing graffiti.

They can be given for crimes such as property damage, benefit fraud and assualt.

Pros - reduce burden on prisons, less expensive

Cons - May not be harsh enough, low level crime may increase, social exclusion.

Question 12

Application - Police officers reducing reoffending

Answer 12

1. Anger Management - CALM
2. Employment Programmes - Gillis + Nafekh
3. Role model - Bandura