Situational and dispositional explanations for institutional
aggression
Depth:
The situational explanation consists of the deprivation model and this empahsises the causes of a
particular behaviour as being due to the context in which it occurs rather than any enduring
characteristics of the individuals involved.
Institutional aggression according to the deprivation model, is the product of stressful and
oppressive conditions of the prison itself, and the deprivation model argues that, in response to
these oppressive conditions, inmates may act more aggressively.
Specific deprivations that inmates experience in prison that may contribute to an increase in
violence include loss of liberty, loss of autonomy and loss of security.
RESEARCH: a study of over 200 prison inmates discovered that prison violence is frequently a way
of surviving the risk of exploitation (by appearing weak).
Cooke et al argue that “violent prisoners are only violent in certain circumstances” – There are 3
factors that occur in prisons that might contribute to increased aggression.
1. Overcrowding: A Japanese study found that prison population density had a significant effect on
inmate-inmate violence rates, even after controlling for other possible contributing factors.
2. Heat and noise: Prisons tend to be hot and noisy places. High temperatures and noise exacerbate
the effects of overcrowding and may predispose inmates to aggressive behaviour.
3. Job burnout: Job burnout among prison staff refers to the experience of being psychologically
worn out from a job and a gradual loss of caring about the people with whom they work. This has
been linked to the development of violence in prison settings because of a deterioration in
relationships with inmates.
EVALUATION
Situational explanation
P – there is substantial research evidence to support the claim that peer violence is a response to the
deprivation experienced in institutional cultures, such as prisons.
E – In a major study of 371 US prisons, it was found that situational factors such as overcrowding and lack
of privacy significantly influenced violence amongst staff and inmates.
E – Prisons which involved themselves in educational programmes had a lower incidence of violence.
L – This suggests that depriving inmates of meaningful activity increases the likelihood of violent behaviour,
as predicted by the deprivation model.
P – there are challenges to the deprivation model
E – Researchers collected data from more than 24,000 inmates from 58 prisons across the US. They
included importation variables (e.g., race and criminal history) and deprivation variables (e.g., staff to
prisoner ratio and security level) and tested which of these variables predicted the individual likelihood of
aggression.
aggression
Depth:
The situational explanation consists of the deprivation model and this empahsises the causes of a
particular behaviour as being due to the context in which it occurs rather than any enduring
characteristics of the individuals involved.
Institutional aggression according to the deprivation model, is the product of stressful and
oppressive conditions of the prison itself, and the deprivation model argues that, in response to
these oppressive conditions, inmates may act more aggressively.
Specific deprivations that inmates experience in prison that may contribute to an increase in
violence include loss of liberty, loss of autonomy and loss of security.
RESEARCH: a study of over 200 prison inmates discovered that prison violence is frequently a way
of surviving the risk of exploitation (by appearing weak).
Cooke et al argue that “violent prisoners are only violent in certain circumstances” – There are 3
factors that occur in prisons that might contribute to increased aggression.
1. Overcrowding: A Japanese study found that prison population density had a significant effect on
inmate-inmate violence rates, even after controlling for other possible contributing factors.
2. Heat and noise: Prisons tend to be hot and noisy places. High temperatures and noise exacerbate
the effects of overcrowding and may predispose inmates to aggressive behaviour.
3. Job burnout: Job burnout among prison staff refers to the experience of being psychologically
worn out from a job and a gradual loss of caring about the people with whom they work. This has
been linked to the development of violence in prison settings because of a deterioration in
relationships with inmates.
EVALUATION
Situational explanation
P – there is substantial research evidence to support the claim that peer violence is a response to the
deprivation experienced in institutional cultures, such as prisons.
E – In a major study of 371 US prisons, it was found that situational factors such as overcrowding and lack
of privacy significantly influenced violence amongst staff and inmates.
E – Prisons which involved themselves in educational programmes had a lower incidence of violence.
L – This suggests that depriving inmates of meaningful activity increases the likelihood of violent behaviour,
as predicted by the deprivation model.
P – there are challenges to the deprivation model
E – Researchers collected data from more than 24,000 inmates from 58 prisons across the US. They
included importation variables (e.g., race and criminal history) and deprivation variables (e.g., staff to
prisoner ratio and security level) and tested which of these variables predicted the individual likelihood of
aggression.
