HMP Moorcroft has recently experienced a dramatic rise in inmate-on-inmate violence. The prison inspector's report highlights that the facility is operating at 160% capacity, meaning inmates spend up to 22 hours a day sharing small, poorly ventilated cells with no privacy. Furthermore, budget cuts have led to a reduced diet and the cancellation of vocational workshops.
The governor claims: "The aggressive atmosphere is entirely due to these harsh, frustrating conditions." However, some officers argue that the violence is driven by a new wave of gang-affiliated offenders who entered the prison with pre-existing violent tendencies.
Discuss the situational explanation for institutional aggression in prisons. Refer to the description of HMP Moorcroft in your answer.
14 exam-style questions on AQA A Level Psychology Institutional aggression in prisons. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.