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Unit 15: Aggression
15.5 Institutional Aggression
15.5.1 Dispositional Explanations
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Dispositional explanations of aggression focus on individual characteristics such as personality traits, genes, and
hormones
Match the type of explanation with its focus:
Dispositional ↔️ Individual characteristics
Situational ↔️ Environmental factors
The importation model proposes that individuals import their pre-prison characteristics into the prison
environment
Match the key component of the importation model with its description:
Pre-prison characteristics ↔️ Attitudes, values, behaviors from outside prison
Influence on behavior ↔️ Impacts inmate interactions and responses
Inmates with a history of gang involvement are likely to display
aggressive
behaviors within prison.
The importation model suggests that inmates' pre-prison characteristics influence their behavior in
prison
Match the aspect of the importation model with its description:
Strengths ↔️ Accounts for individual differences
Weaknesses ↔️ Overlooks prison environment
The importation model fully considers the impact of the prison environment on inmate behavior.
False
Research on gang involvement supports the importation model, but it doesn't fully consider how the prison environment itself can influence
behavior
Studies on gang involvement show that inmates with a history of gang membership often maintain
violent
behaviors in prison.
Research on pre-prison substance abuse shows higher rates of prison violence among those with substance abuse
backgrounds
Match the limitation of the importation model with its example:
Prison Environment Neglected ↔️ Many inmates' behaviors are influenced by prison conditions
Lack of Control Groups ↔️ Research may not compare similar inmates
What does the importation model suggest influences prison behavior?
Pre-prison characteristics
Studies show that inmates with a history of gang involvement maintain violent behaviors in
prison
Pre-prison substance abuse is associated with higher rates of prison violence, supporting the
importation model
.
What is one weakness of research supporting the importation model?
Lack of control groups
The study by Irwin and Cressey (1962) found that gang involvement was a significant predictor of prison
violence
Sykes (1958) argued that
prison conditions
, not pre-prison traits, primarily influence inmate behavior.
What are dispositional explanations of aggression primarily concerned with?
Individual characteristics
Key factors in dispositional explanations include personality traits, genes, and
hormones
High testosterone levels are associated with more aggressive behavior in
dispositional
explanations.
What does the importation model propose about inmate behavior in prison?
It is influenced by pre-prison traits
Inmates with a history of
gang
involvement may continue to display
aggressive
behaviors within the
prison
system
The importation model emphasizes individual factors over
situational factors
in explaining prison behavior.
What is one strength of the importation model in explaining prison behavior?
Accounts for individual differences
One weakness of the importation model is that it overlooks the impact of the prison
environment
Research on gang involvement supports the importation model by showing
continuity
in violent behavior.
What is one weakness of the importation model related to the prison environment?
Many behaviors influenced by prison
The study by Irwin and Cressey (1962) found that gang involvement was a significant predictor of prison
violence
What is the primary focus of situational explanations in institutional aggression?
Environmental factors
Harsh prison conditions are an example of a
situational factor
that can trigger aggression.