Lesson 9: Dispostional Explanations

Question 1

Who was it put forward by and what model?

Answer 1

Irwin and Cressey, Importation model

Question 2

What does the Importation model propose?

Answer 2

That individuals import their characteristics and traits into prison, when they enter.
Mains that if indiv comes from subculture where violence is norm, they will continue to be violent in prisons.
Younger inmates tend to be more violent, harder to adjust.
Argues that its not situational pressures of prison that causes aggression by disposition of individual.
Model useful as it explains higher levels of aggression by individuals with certain personal characteristics

Question 3

Study supporting model?

Answer 3

Matt DeLisi eat al.
Juvenile offenders in Californian institutions
Negative backgrounds
These individuals were importing characteristics
Compared with control group
‘Negative’ inmates more likely to engage in sexual misconduct, physical aggression

Question 4

Gang membership.

Answer 4

Another dispositional factor in explaining institutional aggression
Gang membership=violence
(Proof)

Question 5

GOOD

Answer 5

• Research support (Adams, American prisons, black inmates, poorer backgrounds)
• Research support (Camp and Gaes, 61 male inmates, low security vs high security, 33%=low,36%=high)

Question 6

BAD

Answer 6

• Ignores how prison is run
• Beta bias