Evaluate the importation model of aggression. - Scottish Highers Psychology - Question b - 2019

The importation model of aggression argues that individuals bring their own experiences and behavioral patterns into environments such as prison, which can perpetuate aggressive behavior. This model emphasizes individual characteristics and influences, highlighting certain important points:

1. Focus on Individual Characteristics: The model primarily concentrates on how personal traits impact aggression. For instance, factors such as prior violent behavior or personality traits like impulsivity may influence aggressive actions in a prison setting.

2. Overlooking Environmental Factors: By emphasizing individual characteristics, the model tends to neglect external factors such as overcrowding or strict prison policies, which can also provoke aggression. Research has shown that hostile environments can exacerbate underlying tendencies.

3. Comparative Findings: Studies indicate that aggression rates can differ between male and female prisons, suggesting that while the importation model holds some merit, it may not comprehensively predict aggression across different institutional contexts.

4. Implications for Institutional Policies: This model leads to contradictory results regarding intervention strategies. If aggression stems primarily from individual backgrounds, interventions focused solely on tangible institutional changes may not be effective for every inmate.

5. Strengths and Weaknesses: While the model provides valuable insights into how personal histories influence behaviors, its limitations lie in its inadequate consideration of systemic factors that can also drive aggression.

Overall, while the importation model of aggression offers a relevant perspective in understanding aggressive behavior, its effectiveness is dampened by its limited scope of analysis regarding external factors.