Institutional aggression in the context of prisons: dispositional and situational explanations.

What is Institutional Aggression?

• Aggressive behaviour that occurs within institutions.
• In AQA Psychology this mainly refers to aggression within prisons.

What is the Dispositional Explanation of Institutional Aggression?

• Aggression is caused by characteristics prisoners bring into prison.
• Aggressive individuals are more likely to behave aggressively in prison.

What is the Importation Model?

• Explanation proposed by Irwin and Cressey.
• Prisoners import behaviours, values and experiences into prison.
• These influence levels of aggression.

Who Proposed the Importation Model?

• Irwin and Cressey (1962).

What is the Basic Assumption of the Importation Model?

• Aggression originates from the individual rather than the prison environment.
• Prisoners bring aggressive tendencies into prison.

How does Criminal History Explain Prison Aggression?

• Violent offenders may already possess aggressive tendencies.
• These behaviours continue inside prison.

How do Personality Traits Explain Prison Aggression?

• Some individuals are naturally more aggressive than others.
• These traits may increase aggression within prison.

What is Prisoner Subculture?

• Shared values and behaviours developed before entering prison.
• These norms may encourage aggression.

How does Prisoner Subculture Explain Prison Aggression?

• Prisoners bring values and attitudes from outside prison.
• These may promote aggressive behaviour within the institution.

Delisi et al. — Aim

• Investigate whether imported characteristics influence prison aggression.

Delisi et al. — Findings

• Gang-affiliated prisoners committed more violent acts in prison.
• Supports the importation model.

Delisi et al. — Conclusion

• Characteristics brought into prison can influence aggression.
• Supports the dispositional explanation.

What is the Situational Explanation of Institutional Aggression?

• Aggression is caused by the prison environment.
• Prison conditions create frustration and aggression.

What is the Deprivation Model?

• Explanation proposed by Sykes.
• Aggression results from deprivation experienced in prison.

Who Proposed the Deprivation Model?

• Sykes (1958).

What is the Basic Assumption of the Deprivation Model?

• Aggression develops because prisoners are deprived of important needs.
• Prison conditions encourage aggressive behaviour.

What is Deprivation of Liberty?

• Loss of personal freedom.
• Prisoners cannot leave or make many choices independently.

How does Deprivation of Liberty Explain Aggression?

• Loss of freedom creates frustration.
• Frustration may increase aggression.

What is Deprivation of Goods and Services?

• Loss of access to possessions and desired items.
• Prisoners cannot obtain many everyday goods.

How does Deprivation of Goods and Services Explain Aggression?

• Lack of desired items may increase frustration.
• This can contribute to aggression.

What is Deprivation of Heterosexual Relationships?

• Separation from romantic and sexual relationships.
• Prisoners lose access to intimate relationships.

How does Deprivation of Heterosexual Relationships Explain Aggression?

• Separation may create frustration and emotional stress.
• This may contribute to aggression.

What is Deprivation of Autonomy?

• Loss of independence and personal control.
• Daily life is controlled by prison rules.

How does Deprivation of Autonomy Explain Aggression?

• Lack of control creates frustration.
• This may increase aggressive behaviour.

What is Deprivation of Security?

• Living among potentially dangerous inmates.
• Constant threat of violence may exist.

How does Deprivation of Security Explain Aggression?

• Prisoners may become aggressive to protect themselves.
• Aggression may become a survival strategy.

McCorkle et al. — Aim

• Investigate environmental factors linked to prison aggression.

McCorkle et al. — Findings

• Aggression was more common in overcrowded prisons with poor conditions.
• Supports situational explanations.

McCorkle et al. — Conclusion

• Prison conditions contribute to aggression.
• Supports the deprivation model.

Importation Model Evaluation — Research Support

• Delisi et al. found gang-affiliated inmates committed more prison violence.
• Supports the idea that aggression is imported into prison.

Why does Research Support Strengthen the Importation Model?

• Suggests characteristics brought into prison influence behaviour.
• Supports dispositional explanations.

Importation Model Evaluation — Prison Environment Ignored

• Focuses mainly on prisoner characteristics.
• May underestimate the effects of prison conditions.

Why does Ignoring Prison Conditions Weaken the Importation Model?

• Environmental factors clearly influence aggression.
• Prison conditions may contribute to violent behaviour.

Deprivation Model Evaluation — Research Support

• McCorkle et al. found aggression was linked to overcrowding and poor conditions.
• Supports situational explanations.

Why does Research Support Strengthen the Deprivation Model?

• Demonstrates that prison conditions influence aggression.
• Supports the role of environmental factors.

Deprivation Model Evaluation — Individual Differences Ignored

• Not all prisoners become aggressive under the same conditions.
• Some prisoners cope better than others.

Why do Individual Differences Weaken the Deprivation Model?

• Prison conditions alone cannot explain all aggression.
• Personal characteristics also influence behaviour.

Why is an Interactionist Explanation of Institutional Aggression More Realistic?

• Aggression is likely influenced by both prisoner characteristics and prison conditions.
• Combines dispositional and situational explanations.
• Provides a more complete explanation of prison aggression.