Dispositional Argument

Dispositional ArgumentDescribe and evaluate the Dispositional argumentAdd to model answer of Institutional aggression

Situational vs. Dispositional debateIs Institutional Aggression a result of the environment of the institution and situational factors attached to these?

Or is it a result of dispositional factors of the individual which have brought aggression into these institutions?

Abu Ghraib quote from George BushThe United States is a nation of law, George Bush insisted after the sickening photographs showing American soldiers abusing Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison appeared last spring. The disgraceful conduct had been the work of a few bad apples who would be brought to justice.

Abu Ghraib quote from Al GoreGore also called the Bush administration's Iraq war plan "incompetent" and described Bush as the most dishonest president since Nixon. Gore commented, In Iraq, what happened in that prison, it is now clear, is not the result of random acts of a few bad apples. It was the natural consequence of the Bush Administration policy.

Dispositional Argument Suggests there are aspects of a persons disposition that make them more likely to perform aggressive actions than others

Dispositional argumentFocuses on the nature and the personality characteristics of members of the institution

6

Dispositional ArgumentHides the reality of human behaviour

Dispositional ArgumentIgnores situational pressures of the institution as a cause of aggression

Importation ModelIrwin & Cressey, (1962)

Supporters of the dispositional argument to explain institutional aggression in prisons.

Irwin & Cressey (1962) Importation model

The people put in prisons are more likely to have violent backgrounds and therefore more likely to bring violence into institutions

Dispositional Argument A02 Harer & Steffensmeiser (1996)

Analysed data from 58 U.S prisonsFound that Black inmates displayed significantly higher levels of violent behaviour but lower rates of alcoholism and drug use, which were significantly higher in White inmates.

Dispositional Argument A02 Harer & Steffensmeiser (1996)

They concluded that these differences reflect racial differences within US society generally.

Inmates had imported their cultural characteristics into the prison

Dispositional Argument A02 Keller & Wang (2005)

Found that Prison Violence and assaults on staff by inmates are more likely to occur in maximum-security prisons These prisons hold inmates with the most violent histories.

Dispositional Argument A02The Importation Model suggests that membership of a violent gang prior to confinement will result in increased levels of violence within the prison.

Dispositional Argument A02 DeLisi et al (2004)

Analysed 800 male inmatesFound no evidence that gang membership prior to prison was linked with violence within the prison

Dispositional Argument A02 Does not provide any suggestions for how to best manage violent offenders or how to reduce institutional violence in general.

Dispositional Argument A02 Zimbardo (1971)

Evaluation of Dispositional Argument AO3

GenderReductionistEthical Guidelines?Nature vs. NurtureAnimal StudiesDeterminsm vs. Free WillEthnocentricism

18

Exam Prep1. Discuss explanations of institutional aggression(8 + 16 marks)

2. Discuss research into institutional aggression(8 + 16 marks)

1. Discuss explanations of institutional aggression

Intro Aggression; Institutions; 2 explanationsP1 Situational Argument A01 Deprivation ModelP2 Situational Argument A02 StudiesP3 Situational Argument A03 (Determinism)P4 Dispositional Argument A01 Importation ModelP5 Dispositional Argument A02 Studies P6 Dispositional Argument A03 (Nature; Reductionist etc.)ConclusionA01A03A02A03A01A02

2. Discuss research into institutional aggression

Intro Aggression; Institutions; 2 argumentsStudies described supporting Situational A01Problems with the research A02Situational Argument A03 DeterminismStudies supporting Dispositional A01Problems with this research A02Dispositional Argument A03 (Reductionist / Nature)Real world application Abu GhraibInstitutional Aggression A03 G/Ethno.A01A02A03A01A02A01A02A03A01A02A03