dispositional explanation

• P: This model has received some research support. Mears tested the view that inmate behaviour stems in part from the cultural belief systems that they import with them into prison

  E: they measured the 'code of the street' belief system and the prison experiences of inmates. their results supported the argument that a 'code of the street' system affects affects inmate violence.
• link for importation model support

  L: mears conclude that although the 'code of the streets' does not directly cause violent behaviour. it does call for proactive responses to perceived insults and provocations. in a prison setting this is likely to involve violence as a way of commanding respect
• P: evidence from DeLisi challenges the claim that pre-prison gang membership predicts violence while in prison

  E: they found that inmates with prior street gang involvement were no more likely than other inmates to engage in prison violence. neither street gang nor prison gang membership predicted involvement in prison violence.

  L: the lack of association found in this study, however, can be explained by the fact that violent gang members tend to be isolated from the general inmate population, therefore greatly restricting their opportunities for violence.