Institutional Aggression

Question 1

What are the two explanations for aggression in institutions?

Answer 1

1. Importation model
2. Deprivation model

Question 2

What does the importation model suggest?

Answer 2

Suggests that prisoners bring their own characteristics and traits with them to the prison environment (beliefs, norms etc).

Question 3

Why does the importation model suggest prisoners use violence?

Answer 3

To establish power and status in prison.

Question 4

What did DeLisi et al find about the importation model?

Answer 4

-Found that people with negative characteristic were more likely to behave aggressively.

-The ‘negative’ inmates were more likely to engage in suicidal activity, sexual misconduct and physical aggression.

Question 5

What does the deprivation model suggest?

Answer 5

Aggression is due to stress created by the prison environment.

Question 6

What did Clemmer suggest about the deprivation model?

Answer 6

Harsh prison conditions are very stressful for inmates so they use aggression to help them cope.

Question 7

What factors does aggression help the inmates adapt to?

Answer 7

-Psychological factors (freedom, independence).

-Physical factors (material goods, resources).

Question 8

Give advantages of explanations of institutional aggression.

Answer 8

+Supporting evidence for the importation model.
The biggest factor to aggressive behaviour is how aggressive the offenders were before.

+Has real world applications.
Offer the inmates therapy and make the prisoners nicer to avoid/reduce really aggressive behaviour in prisons.

Question 9

Give a disadvantage of explanations for institutional aggression.

Answer 9

-The importation model does not take into account situational factors.
E.g. factors like racism could act as a trigger for violent behaviour in institutions.