Dispositional and situational explanations of aggression

what does the situational explanation for aggression say?

aggression is caused by the environment of the institution

what model supports the situational explanation?

the deprivation model

what does the dispositional explanation for aggression say?

you can locate the cause of aggression within the individual

what model supports the dispositional explanation?

the importation model

who came up with the deprivation model?

clemmer (1958)

who came up with the importation model?

irwin and cressey (1962)

what does clemmer’s (1958) deprivation model say?

• being deprived of safety, material goods, and freedom exacerbate aggression

• overcrowding, heat, and noise in the environment can exacerbate aggression

• strict rules and regimes and staff burnout can contribute

what does irwin and cressey’s (1962) importation model say?

• inmates import pre-existing values/attitudes into situations

• dispositional characteristics include anger, antisocial personality, impulsivity, and low self control

• people previously involved in gangs may exhibit more aggression as it was their norm

who provided supporting evidence for the deprivation model?

mccorkle et al. (1995) and steiner (2009)

what did mccorkle et al. (1995) find to support the deprivation model?

• 371 US prisons

• overcrowding and lack of meaningful activities significantly influences amount of aggression towards inmates and staff

• suggests violence is used to cope w deprivation in situational factors

what did steiner (2009) find to support the deprivation model?

• over 500 US prisons

  • inmate violence higher where there was overcrowding

who found research evidence to support the importation model?

delisi et al. (2011)

what did delisi et al. (2011) find to support the importation model?

• over 800 juvenile offenders who had negative dispositional factors (e.g. drug abuse, anger, childhood trauma, etc.)

• these inmates committed more physical violence than those without dispositional factors

who did real-life application research supporting the deprivation model?

wilson (2010)

what did wilson (2010) find about real-life application of the deprivation model?

reduced overcrowding, noise, and overheated prison environments

found a small reduction in assaults on prison staff and other inmates