Instituational Aggression

Instituational Aggression

1. Importation Model

   • The Importation Model claims that prisoners bring their own violent characteristics and traits with them into the prison, meaning that they are not blank slates when they enter the institution.
     • It states that people who are aggressive outside of the prison will be more aggressive in the prison.
       • Therefore, the Importation Model argues that it is NOT the situational pressures within the prison that causes aggression, but rather the PERSONALITIES of the individuals.
   • A02:
     • (Harer et al) found research evidence to support the Importation Model.
       • They found that is US prisons, black inmates has higher rates of violent behaviour compared to white inmates, but that white inmates had higher rates of alcohol and drug related offence.
         • Thus suggests that these behaviours reflect their cultural norms in which white and black inmates hold outside prison settings.
           • Therefore demonstrates that the behaviours had been imported into the prison and thus supports the Importation Model.
     • Limitation:
       • However, a limitation of the Importation Model is that it does not accurately predict which inmates will behave aggressively in prison environments.
         • This is because the model states that those prisoners who were members of 'violent gangs' before they were imprisioned will be more likely to behave aggressively in prison.
   • IDA:
     • Gender Bias:
       • Research into Institutional Aggression is argued to be Gender Biased because most of the research has been carried out on prisons or armed forces, which consists of mainly male participants.
         • Males and females can differ in terms of aggression.
           • For example, research has found that female prisoners often establish strong bonds with other female prisoners.
             • Therefore, the explanations for female aggression occurring in prisoners may be different to those offered for male prisoners.
               • As a result, research cannot be generalised to communities where both sexes are mixed or mostly females, such as work places.

2. Institutional aggression refers to violent behaviour that occurs in institutions, such as schools, prisons and offices.

3. Deprivation Model

   • The Deprivation Model argues that it is the stressful conditions within the institution that causes violent behaviours in inmates.
     • The Deprivation Model suggests that inmates within a prison are deprived from things, such as: freedom, home comforts and social networks.
       • As a result, this deprivation causes frustration, which then leads to violent behaviour towards other inmates and staff.
         • The model is an extension of the frustration aggression hypothesis.
   • A02:
     • (McCorkle et al) found research evidence to support the Deprivation Model.
       • They found that overcrowding, lack of privacy and the lack of meaningful activity all significantly influenced peer violence.
         • They argued that it is the way a prison is managed which then results to higher levels of peer violence.
           • However, research in this area is not consistent in its findings.
             • A study found that increased personal space failed to decrease the level of violent behaviour among inmates.
     • (Jiang et al) found further support for both the Deprivation & Importation Models, as explanations of Institutional Aggression.
       • They found that the Deprivation Model was better able to explain violence against prison staff, whereas the Importation Model was better able to explain violence against other inmates.
   • IDAs:
     • Real-World Application
       • The Deprivation Model offers Real-World Application, showing that improving conditions in prisons has led to reduced aggressive behaviour among inmates.
         • For example, (Wilson) changed deprivation conditions at HMP Woodhill Prison by giving inmates more space, less noise and lower temperatures and found that levels of aggressive behaviour decreased dramatically.
           • However, he states 'We can't have the worst prisoners being given the best things'
     • Deterministic
       • Both models ignore the role of free will, therefore the models are argued to be deterministic.
         • People have the ability of conscious thought in managing their own behaviour.
           • Both models assume that aggression is made more likely due to personality factors or environmental factors, disposing individuals to violent behaviour.
             • However, this is not always the case.

Bilder und Dateien der Mindmap