Institutional Aggression in the Context of Prisons

• What is institutional aggression?

  Aggressive behavior in formal settings
• What does dispositional explanation emphasize?

  The importance of individual personality
• What does situational explanation identify as causes of behavior?

  Causes existing within the environment
• What does Irwin & Cressey’s importation model argue?

  Prisoners import behaviors from outside
• What is the basis of the importation model?

  It is based on nature and nurture
• How do inmates use aggression according to the importation model?

  To establish power, status, and resources
• What was the aim of DeLisi et al (2011)?

  To investigate dispositional factors in misconduct
• How many juvenile delinquents were studied by DeLisi et al (2011)?

  813 juvenile delinquents
• What negative backgrounds did all offenders in DeLisi et al (2011) have?

  Childhood abuse, anger, substance abuse
• What behaviors were inmates more likely to engage in according to DeLisi et al (2011)?

  Suicidal activity, sexual misconduct, aggression
• What did Camp & Gaes (2005) study reveal about aggressive misconduct?

  No significant difference in aggression levels
• What conclusion did Camp & Gaes (2005) reach regarding aggressive behavior?

  Inmate characteristics are more important than environment
• What does Dilulio (1991) claim about the importation model?

  It ignores other factors influencing behavior
• What does the Administrative Control model propose?

  Poorly managed prisons lead to inmate violence
• What are harsh prison conditions linked to according to Clemmer’s deprivation model?

  Increased aggression among inmates
• How does deprivation of material goods affect inmates?

  It increases competition and aggression
• What creates frustration in prisons according to Clemmer’s model?

  Unpredictable regimes and lock-ups
• What did Steiner (2009) investigate?

  Factors predicting aggression in US prisons
• What prison-level factors predicted aggression in Steiner's study?

  Staff gender, overcrowding, protective custody
• What did Cunningham et al (2010) find in their analysis of inmate homicides?

  Motivations linked to deprivations in Clemmer’s model
• What contradiction exists in the deprivation model according to Hensley et al (2002)?

  No link between conjugal visits and aggression
• What does the deprivation model predict about heterosexual contact?

  Lack of contact leads to high aggression
• What are the key components of the importation model?

  • Prisoners import behaviors from outside
  • Individual characteristics influence aggression
  • Based on nature and nurture
• What are the key components of the deprivation model?

  • Harsh prison conditions cause stress
  • Deprivation of goods increases competition
  • Aggression is an adaptive response to deprivation
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the importation model?

  Strengths:

  • Supported by research (Camp & Gaes)
  • Focuses on individual characteristics

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Ignores situational factors (Dilulio)
  • Overlooks prison management effects
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the deprivation model?

  Strengths:

  • Supported by research (Cunningham et al)
  • Links aggression to prison conditions

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Contradicted by Hensley et al
  • Predicts aggression based on lack of contact
• What is a strength for the Dispositional Explanation?

  Research Support

  • Camp & Gaes (2005) studied 561 male inmates with similar criminal histories and predispositions to aggression, in which they were randomly placed in low-security prisons and high-security prisons for 2 years
  • There was no significant difference in the number of prisoners involved in aggressive misconduct, and the researchers concluded that features of the prison environment are less important predictors of aggressive behaviour than characteristics of inmates
  • This is strong evidence for the importation model because of the random allocation of inmates
• What is a limitation for the Dispositional Explanation?

  Ignores Key Factors

  • Dilulio (1991) claims that the importation model ignores other factors that influence prisoners’ behaviour, such as the way the prison is run
  • Instead, he proposed an Administrative Control model, which states that poorly managed prisons are more likely to have inmate violence, as poor management includes weak leadership, unofficial rules and few opportunities for education
  • Therefore, importation is an inadequate explanation because institutional factors are probably more important than inmate characteristics
• What is a limitation for the Situational Explanation?

  Contradictory Research

  • The model predicts that a lack of heterosexual contact should lead to high levels of aggressive behaviour in prisons
  • However, Hensley et al (2002) studied 256 male and female inmates in Mississippi, a state that allows conjugal visits, and there was no link between involvement in these visits and reduced aggressive behaviour
  • This suggests that situational factors do not substantially affect prison violence
• What is a strength for the Situational Explanation?

  Research Support

  • Cunningham et al (2010) analysed 35 inmate homicides in Texas prisons, and found that the perpetrators’ motivations were linked to some of the deprivations identified in Clemmer’s model
  • Many of the homicides followed arguments over drugs, sexual activity, personal possessions and between cell-sharing inmates where boundaries had been crossed
  • These factors are identified by the deprivation model, supporting the model’s validity