Institutional aggression - Research evaluations

Question 1

support for situational factors

Answer 1

Bierie (2011)
Stratified sample of prison staff.
Did a questionnaire of conditions in their prisons and matched it to the records of violence in their prison.

117 US prisons.

Results showed extreme inmate violence to be higher in prisons with poorer physical conditions.
Also prisons with more white male staff and few female staff.

Question 2

support for dispositional factors

Answer 2

DeLisi (2011)
Reviewed early personal background/criminal history.
(over 2500 young male offenders)

Those living in care-poverty-history of violence towards family members.
Associated with violent assault of prison staff/other inmates.

This suggests early home experiences before prison will result in these dispositional factors.

Question 3

What is a life course importation model ?

Answer 3

Negative early life/prison experiences lead to a life of anti-social behaviour both outside and inside of prison that can lead to more violence.