• Crime is embedded in their personality (e.g. part of a mafia or crime family)
• Most likely to be aggressive before hand and within the prison
• repeat offenders
have been raised in the prison system (know how to manipulate the system)
look for positions of power within the system
influenced by deprivation prior to being imprisoned and bring values of that subculture inside with them
The Criminal Subculture
• Crime is only partially embedded in their personality
• More serious crime
• Can be aggressive when they need to be but do not intend harm
• Follow prisonnorms and rules of prison
they respect the prison hierarchy
• Views such as loyalty and trust among other criminals are important
• Follow the norms and values associated with being a thief or criminal
The Straight Subculture
• No history of crime, not repeat offenders (e.g. speeding)
• Go to prison for a one-off reason and do not want to go to prison again (e.g. revenge)
• Less likely to be aggressive
weren't part of a criminal subculture beforehand
rejects both other groups with prison and identify more with prison officers and staff
one time offenders
Overall, this explanation suggests people in prisons are aggressive because…
• Explains why some people are aggressive and others aren’t (e.g. criminal history)
• Explains why there are different levels of aggression among people
• Individual characteristics are associated with aggression – it is the person that makes them aggressive, not the environment
Strengths (+)
• Research support – DeLisi found individuals with trauma or substance abuse were more likely to engage in aggression, such as suicidal activity or sexual abuse.
• Real-life application – Useful for prison staff in managing aggression.
• Explains individual differences – Helps explain why some people are aggressive in institutions while others are not.
• High-security prisons statistically have higher levels of assault - suggests the personality of the inmate led them to high security prison
Weaknesses (-)
• Too reductionist – Ignores the influence of situational factors, such as overcrowding, deprivation, and intimacy.
• Deterministic – Suggests aggression is inevitable for certain individuals.
• Contradictory research – Some studies support situational explanations rather than dispositional ones.
• Too simplistic – External factors like peer pressure from other inmates can also influence aggression.
• Interactionist approach needed – A better explanation might combine both dispositional and situational factors.