Institutional aggression

• Definition of institutional aggression


  Aggression within an institutional environment
• Locations where institutional aggression is common

  • Prisons
  • Youth detention centres
• Dispositional explanation of institutional aggression

  Institutional aggression stems from the characteristics of individuals in the institution
• Disposition explanation (Irwin and Cressey (1962) Suggested...

  • Characteristics and social norms
  • Inmates bring with them when they enter prison
• Dispositional explanation (Irwin and Cressey (1962) Called it...

  • Importation model
  • Bring norms of criminal gangs into institution
• AO3 Dispositional explanation (Harer and Steffensmeier 1996). Research


  • Looked at data of 58 male prisons
  • In USA
• AO3 Dispositional explanation (Harer and Steffensmeier 1996). Findings

  • Violence higher among black inmates
  • Drug offence higher among white inmates
  • Supported importation model
  • Mirror trends in USA society
  • Research criticised for been androcentric
• Situational explanation of institutional aggression defintion

  Aggression caused by the environment
• AO3 Situational aggression (Sykes 1958) 


  • Particular deprivations cause the aggression
• What model is situational aggression

  Deprivation model
• Situational explanation of aggresion (Megargee 1977)

  • Inmates in American youth offender
  • 3 years
  • Crowding significantly correlated to disruptive behaviour
• Why are both dispositional and situational explanation important

  1. Their research is contradictory
  2. Both types play a part
• AO3 situational aggression (Maslow) support

  • There is hierarchy in prisons
  • physiological needs
  • Lack of safety
  • Enforced sleeping
• Situational explanation, 5 major types of deprivation in prison

  1. Deprivation of liberty
  2. deprivation of autonomy
  3. Deprivation of sex
  4. Deprivation of goods and services
  5. Deprivation of security
• 3 major situational factors

  • Staff characteristics --> Staff influence aggression
  • Organisational --> Rules + regulations prisoners adhere to
  • Cramped conditions --> threatening environment
• Dispositional explanation AO3

  • Looks at prisoners idiographic
  • Work on sub-cultures is nomothetic
• Dispositional explanation AO3

  • Poole + Regoli, adult studies not replicable and pre-institutional violence best indicator of aggression
  • Mears (2013), code of street imported (lack of family)
• Dispositional explanation 3 prison sub-cultures

  1. criminal or thief culture (code of honour + repeat offenders)
  2. Convict of culture (hierarchy of power)
  3. Straight (1 time offenders)