institutional aggression in prisons

what are dispositional explanations?

the causes of a particular behaviour as being due to the enduring characteristics of the individuals involved rather than any aspect of the situation they are in

what is institutional aggression?

aggressive acts that are found in particular violent institutions such as prison

what are situational explanations?

the causes of a particular behaviour as being due to the context in which it occurs rather than any enduring characteristics of the individuals involved

what kind of explanation is the importation model?

dispositional

what kind of explanation is the deprivation model?

situational

what is the deprivation model?

Paterline & Peterson

institutional aggression is the product of the stressful & oppressive conditions of prison

what derivations in prison does Sykes identify?

• loss of liberty

• loss of autonomy

• loss of security

what did Kimmet & Martin find?

violence in prison is frequently a way of surviving the risk of exploitation

what circumstances does Cooke et al claim cause institutional aggression?

• overcrowding

• heat & noise

• job burnout

what is the research support for overcrowding causing institutional aggression?

Yuma → prison population density has a significant effect on inmate on inmate violence even after controlling variables

what is the research support for heat & noise causing institutional aggression?

Griffitt & Veitch → high temperature & high population density produced more negative emotions in inmates

what is the research support for job burnout as a cause of institutional aggression?

Maslach → the development of violence in prison is because of a deterioration in relationships with inmates & functioning of the prison

what is the importation model?

Irwin & Cressey

inmates bring their violent pasts to prison

what is an important determinant of prison violence?

gang membership

who found that gang members disproportionately engage in prison violence?

Allender & Marcell

what did Drury & DeLisi find about gang membership & prison violence?

individuals who had been gang members prior to imprisonment were significantly more likely to commit various types of misconduct in prison

what dispositional characteristics are included in the importation model?

• anger, antisocial personality style & impulsivity

• low self control

what is the research support for anger, antisocial personality & impulsivity as a cause of institutional aggression?

Wang & Diamond → these characteristics were stronger predictors of institutional aggression than ethnicity & type of offence

what research support is there for low self control as a cause of institutional aggression?

DeLisi —> tendency to lose temper easily was a significant predictor of aggressive behaviour before and during incarceration

what are the strengths of the importation model?

• research support - Mears et al - measured code of the street belief system & prison experiences - found that it affects inmate violence - especially in those with unsupportive families or prior gang membership

what are the weaknesses of the importation model?

• inmates with prior gang involvement were no more likely to engage in prison violence - DeLisi - lack of association can be explained by the fact that gang members are isolated form others - restricted opportunities for violence

what are the strengths of the deprivation model?

• research support - McCorkie et al - situational factors e.g., overcrowding influenced inmate assaults - prisons with lots of inmates in educational or vocational programmes had a lower violence incidence

• RWA - HMP Woodhill - set up less claustrophobic units with less noise & heat - virtually eradicated assaults on prison staff and inmates