Situational Explanation

Question 1

What does the situational explanation suggest about why people are aggressive in prisons?

Answer 1

It attributes the aggression to the situation and the idea that it is the conditions and deprivation in prisons that are the issue

Question 2

What are the 3 specific types of factors that come from the environment?

Answer 2

• organisational
• physical
• staff characteristics

Question 3

What does the organisational factor suggest?

Answer 3

It is the influence of rules and regulations that prisoners have to adhere to. These can prompt aggression because of the expectations that all prisoners must follow them

Question 4

What does the physical factor suggest?

Answer 4

The cramped conditions, threatening environment and lack of comfort can influence aggressive behaviour

Question 5

What does the staff characteristics factor suggest?

Answer 5

The attitude and behaviour of the staff can be influential in promoting aggression. E.g clash of personalities, unwillingness of the offender to adhere to rules and negative reactions from staff

Question 6

What is an example of a situational explanation?

Answer 6

The deprivation model

Question 7

What does the deprivation model suggest?

Answer 7

It sees the loss of key needs such as frequent communication with loved ones as being the root of aggressive behaviour

Question 8

How created the five types of deprivation?

Answer 8

Sykes

Question 9

What is the first type of deprivation and what does it suggest?

Answer 9

Deprivation of liberty- the prisoners are no longer allowed to go where they please, when they please and this reinforces the feeling of rejection from society so they are more likely to be aggressive

Question 10

What is the second type of deprivation and what does it suggest?

Answer 10

Deprivation of autonomy- there is no independence for prisoners as they are expected to conform and they have no control over their day to day living e.g. Not being able to choose when they eat. Inmates can therefore experience helplessness and this can cause aggression

Question 11

What is the third type of deprivation and what does it suggest?

Answer 11

Deprivation of goods and services. As access to goods is severely restricted e.g. Mobile phone ps are prohibited this causes anger and resentment which can lead to violence and aggression

Question 12

What is the fourth type of deprivation and what does it suggest?

Answer 12

Deprivation of heterosexual relationships. It suggests that a prisoner has no access to a companion and is can lead to frustration which can cause aggression as the ability to form relationships and experience emotional intimacy is important

Question 13

What is fifth type of deprivation and what does it suggest?

Answer 13

Deprivation of security. The prison environment doesn’t feel safe and they fear for their personal safety. This can lead to heightened awareness and defensiveness which can cause aggression

Question 14

Who conducted the first piece of research into the deprivation model?

Answer 14

Cheeseman

Question 15

What did Cheeseman find?

Answer 15

The lack of stimulation and focus brought about by being in prison linked to aggression. Aggression acted as a way of relieving stress due to the situation. As frustration is prompted by the situation this supports the situational model

Question 16

Who conducted the second piece of research into the deprivation model?

Answer 16

Bloomberg and Lucken

Question 17

What did Bloomberg and Lucken find?

Answer 17

Found evidence to support the idea that lack of autonomy can contribute to aggression. They found that seeking permission to perform acts such as washing and eating can lead to frustration which can cause aggression

Question 18

Who conducted the third piece of research into the deprivation model?

Answer 18

Johnston

Question 19

What did Johnston find?

Answer 19

Prison overcrowding leads to increased aggression. There is greater competition for the resources available and this competition elicits aggression

Question 20

What is a strength of the deprivation model?

Answer 20

Maslow hierarchy of needs. In the first step, physiological needs cannot be met all the time in prison and also the safety needs are not possible due to the lack of safety in a prison which means that if they cannot reach self actualisation then this can cause negative behaviour

Question 21

What is a limitation of the deprivation model?

Answer 21

There are issues with individual differences as all prisoners are exposed to the same deprivations and institutional environment, yet not all prisoners will display aggression. Therefore perhaps a combination of the importation and deprivation model may provide a better explanation

Question 22

What is a strength/limitation of the deprivation model?

Answer 22

Prison riots support the situational model as when there has been a withdrawal of privileges or a lack of explanation this can cause aggression. However, prison riots can also flare up with apparently no reason whatsoever

Question 23

How does the free will vs determinism debate link to the situational explanation?

Answer 23

People are aggressive in prisons due to the environment they are in and they cannot control this therefore this is a deterministic approach

Question 24

How does the research on institutional aggression show gender bias?

Answer 24

It shows beta bias as the studied tend to Ben conducted on male prisoners and it is assumed that female prisoners would behave in the same way