Exploring the deprivation model in institutional settings, this analysis delves into how environmental factors like the 'pains of imprisonment' can lead to aggression among inmates. It examines the model's empirical support, its practical implications for prison reform, and critiques that highlight the need for a multifactorial understanding of aggression, including dispositional elements from the importation and interactionist models.
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Institutional aggression includes violent behaviors that occur in structured environments such as prisons and military facilities
Aggression in Prisons
Prisons, intended to segregate offenders, often become breeding grounds for aggression
The causes of institutional aggression are multifaceted, with some theories focusing on the inherent violent tendencies of inmates and others examining the oppressive conditions of confinement
The Deprivation Model, introduced by Gresham Sykes, posits that the punitive and restrictive nature of imprisonment can incite aggressive reactions among inmates
Five Core Deprivations
The "pains of imprisonment" include five core deprivations: liberty, autonomy, goods and services, heterosexual relationships, and security
The Deprivation Model suggests that environmental stressors, like limited space and disrupted hierarchies, can intensify feelings of deprivation, leading to aggressive behavior
Some studies have shown that interventions like conjugal visits do not uniformly reduce aggression, questioning the comprehensiveness of the Deprivation Model
Biological and Psychological Factors
The Deprivation Model has been criticized for not fully accounting for biological and psychological factors, such as hormonal influences and personality disorders, which can also drive aggressive behavior
The Importation Model and Interactionist Model offer alternative perspectives on the causes of institutional aggression
The Importation Model suggests that inmates' personal histories and social backgrounds are pivotal in determining their behavior within the institution, emphasizing the role of individual characteristics over the prison environment in explaining aggression
The Interactionist Model integrates the Deprivation and Importation Models, proposing that both situational and dispositional factors collectively influence aggression in correctional settings
Research has shown that both environmental and personal factors play a role in explaining various forms of inmate aggression, including assaults on staff and general misconduct
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Definition of institutional aggression
Violence within structured settings like prisons/military, often due to oppressive conditions.
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Role of prisons in institutional aggression
Intended for segregation; can foster aggression due to confinement and punitive measures.
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Etiology of prison aggression
Multi-causal: inmate's inherent violence and oppressive prison conditions.
