Institutional aggression

Institutional aggression

1. May occur with groups or institutions such as the armed forces, prisons or mental institutions. Therefore it involves more complex processes and conditions than interpersonal aggression. It can lead to the most terrible consequences for victims, e.g. genocide.

2. ORIGINS:

   • Interpersonal factors- The 'Importation Model': Irwin and Cressey (1962)
     • Prisoners bring their own social histories and traits with them, influencing their adaption to the environment. They are not 'blank slates' when entering the prison, many of the normative systems developed on the outside would be 'imported' into the prison.
     • + Haver & Steffersmeier (2006): data from 58 US prisons= black inmates higher rates of violent behaviour BUT lower rates of alcohol and drug-related misconduct than white inmates. This parallels in US society, supporting the idea that this trait was 'imported'.
     • Allender and Marcell: gang members outside of the prison are more likely to be involved in violence.
     • - DeLisi et al (2004): gang members are no more violent in prisons. However they are often isolated and so this is not completely reliable.
   • Situational factors- The 'Deprivation Model': Paterline and Peterson (1999)
     • Prisoner/patient aggression is the product of the stressful and oppressive conditions of the institution ITSELF, e.g. overcrowding (increase fear and frustration levels) and staff experience.
     • Hodgkinson et al (1985): trainee nurses are more likely to suffer assault than experienced ones.
     • + McCorkle et al (1995): overcrowding, lack of privacy and lack of meaningful activity all significantly influence peer violence.
     • - Nijman et al (1999): greater personal space did NOT reduce violence.

3. HAZING: a form of institutional bullying, based on a tradition within many groups to discipline junior members and maintain a strict pecking order. However can spiral out of control.

   • WHY?
     • Brings people together
     • People convince themselves that they enjoyed it
     • A lot of people like a group more if they have to do something hard to get in because they can rely on them more
     • People feel lucky to be part of a group and respected by the hierarchy of the group

4. Zimbardo (1973): Stanford Prison experiment: Individuals took on roles within an institution setting of the 'prisoner' and 'guard'. Each side employ strategies to outwit and subvert the other in order to gain control of the institution. Aimed to be carried out for 2 weeks but stopped after 6 days because punishments got out of hand and injuries were sustained.

   • The Lucifer Effect- We are not defined as good or evil people because we all have the ability to act as both dependent on the situation. Good people can be seduced, initiated into behaving in evil ways and act in antisocial ways when immersed in 'total situations' which challenge their morality.