INVESTIGATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF GROUP PRESSURE UPON PRISON INMATE LEADERS AND NONLEADERS

• NCJ Number: 7305
• Author(s): P F BRAMWELL
• Date Published: 1967
• Length: 51 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: UNPUBLISHED DISSERTATION

Annotation

RESULTS OF THE STUDY INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LEADERS AND NONLEADERS IN GROUP PRESSURE SITUATIONS.

Abstract

SOCIOLOGISTS HAVE DESCRIBED THE PRISON LEADER AS SUBJECTED TO TWO DISTINCT FORCES. FIRST, THERE IS THE PRESSURE OF BEHAVING AS AN EXEMPLAR TO THE OTHER CONVICTS. SECOND, THERE IS THE SUBTLE DEMAND OF THE PRISON OFFICIALS FOR ALL INMATE LEADERS TO CONFORM TO THE PRISON ADMINISTRATIVE GOAL OF KEEPING A QUIET PRISON. WITH THESE FORCES IN MIND IT WAS HYPOTHESIZED THAT PRISON LEADERS WOULD YIELD MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE GROUP PRESSURE SETTING THAN WOULD NONLEADERS. IN SPITE OF THE CONCLUSION OF THIS STUDY, IT WAS FELT THAT THE ARTIFICIALITY OF THE EXPERIMENTAL SETTING MAY HAVE OBSCURED SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES WHICH WOULD APPEAR IN REAL LIFE SITUATIONS. APPENDICES CONTAIN MATERIAL RELATED TO THE TESTING DEVICE. BIBLIOGRAPHY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)