A01

• Institutional explanations aim to explain aggressive behaviour in the contexts of prisons. One theory is the importation model. This is a dispositional explanation as it emphasises the individual’s aggressive personality. Violence in prisons reflects the beliefs, values and norms of the prisoners from the outside world, i.e. they ‘import’ aggressive behaviours, so an inmate predisposed to using violence will do so in any setting (outside and inside of prison). 
• Research investigating juvenile delinquents showed that those who experienced childhood trauma, substance abuse, high levels of anger and a history of violent behaviour were all more likely to commit an increased number of physical violence compared to a control group.
• On the other hand, the deprivation model is a situational explanation of aggression as it focuses on the harsh and stressful prison conditions as the cause of aggressive behaviour. This could include lack of freedom, independence, safety and heterosexual activity. Being deprived of these creates frustration which makes violence more likely to happen. Research has shown that inmate-on-inmate violence was more common in prisons that were overcrowded.