Examining the nature of aggressive behaviour in Thai male prisoners and factors that contribute to

265 Pages·2017·2.71 MB·English

by  Kamonchanok Montasevee

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EXAMINING THE NATURE OF AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR IN THAI MALE
PRISONERS AND FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO ITS AETIOLOGY

by

KAMONCHANOK MONTASEVEE

A thesis submitted to the University of Birmingham for the degree of Doctorate
in Forensic Psychology

The Centre for Forensic and Criminological Psychology
School of Psychology
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
January 2016
University of Birmingham Research Archive

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Abstract

This thesis investigates the nature of aggressive behaviour in Thai male
prisoners and factors that contribute to its aetiology. The first part of the thesis,
Chapters 1 and 2, provides information on prison aggression in western countries, the
rationale of the study and the background of Thai prisons, including Remand
Prison where the study took place. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model is introduced
as the framework for the study. The review of literature was conducted on the scope
of risk factors related to aggression among adult male prisoners worldwide. Twenty-
one papers were included into the review.
The second part of the thesis, Chapter 3 –7, studies prison aggression and
factors related to it among Thai adult male prisoners. Twenty-six aggressive and 26
non-aggressive adult male prisoners were recruited into the study by the prison staff
using the Direct Aggressive Behaviour Checklist. The files of these participating
prisoners were assessed for their general characteristics, and then the prisoners from
both groups were interviewed using structured and semi-structured interviews (using
Stimuli Organism Response Consequences Analysis and Interpretative
Phenomenological Analysis) to identify further characteristics. The different findings
between the aggressive and non-aggressive groups were then analysed.
The findings show significant factors related to prison aggression among Thai
adult male prisoners in different levels of the Ecological Model. In the individual level,
young age, history of child abuse, history of gang affiliation before imprisonment,
psychological variable, substance abuse, low education level, criminal history and
having tattoos were found to be risk factors for prison aggression. In the relationship
level, prison gang membership and being the group leader were significantly related
to prison aggression. In the community level, poor prison environment, poor prisoner
grading and poor prison staff attitude were risk factors for prison aggression. The
theoretical and practical implications of these findings are also discussed for further
study and development.
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Acknowledgements

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has made this
thesis possible. To my supervisors, Louise Dixon and Jessica Woodhams, what you
have taught me over the past few years means so much to me and also paves the way
for my future research. I am very grateful for your guidance and help in every step of
my work. Saying “thank you” is definitely not enough. Darren Charles Francis Bishopp,
I sincerely thank you very much for taking me on as your new student. Your
suggestions truly made this thesis possible.
I would also like to thank all of you who made the data collection possible.
Thank you to Dr Aryut Sintoppant, the Remand Prison governor, for allowing
me to conduct research within the prison for several months. Mr Supachoke
Kuanluechai, Mr Nattakorn Hansamakki, Miss Rangsiporn Jansomwong, Mr Nirutt
Numlamoon and all staff at Remand Prison, thank you very much for your
help, support and great cooperation throughout my data collection process. I could
never have completed this thesis without your help. Thank you to all the participants
from Remand Prison. Your contribution really guides the way for future
research in Thai prisons. Thank you to everyone with whom I work in the Centre for
Forensic and Criminological Psychology, including those I have not mentioned, namely
Sue Hanson and Parveen Chahal. You made complicated tasks much easier for me.
A special thanks to The Royal Thai Government for granting me this
scholarship. It not only offered a way to a PhD but also a great chapter in my life. Also,
thanks to you, Rut, for always being there for me. This means so much to me. Thanks
to Mum and Dad for being more than supportive and for having always believed in
me, even when I started to not to. You are my saving grace. Finally, thanks to my
proofreader, Debra Williams, for your attention to small detail. I am indebted to you
all.
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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction 1 - 26

Chapter 2: Risk factors for physical aggression in adult male 26 - 65
prisoners: A systematic review

Chapter 3: Identifying aggressive and non-aggressive prisoners 66 - 77

Chapter 4: Examining the characteristics of aggressive male 78 - 110
prisoners and aetiology of their aggressive behaviour

Chapter 5: Aggressive and non-aggressive prisoners’ functional 111 - 146
assessment on their perspectives towards the
aggressive incidents in the prison

Chapter 6: Understanding how aggressive and non-aggressive Thai 147 - 176
prisoners make sense of their behaviour in prison

Chapter 7: General discussion 177 - 197

References 198 - 211
Appendices 212 - 255
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List of Tables
Chapter 1
1.1. Level of prisoners according to each type of assessment 21

Chapter 2
2.1. Search terms 28
2.2. Inclusion/exclusion criteria 31
2.3. Summary of principal findings from the empirical studies 35
included in the systematic review

Chapter 3
3.1. Number of consenting prison staff from each unit 67
3.2. Statistical results from the test 75

Chapter 4
4.1. Number of aggressive prisoners (AP) and non-aggressive 81
prisoners (NAP) from each unit
4.2. Rates of characteristics as measured for prisoners in 95
the AG (n - 26) and NAG (n - 26) and bivariate between-group analysis
4.3. Comparison of NAS-PI and RPVS between aggressive and 100
non-aggressive groups
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Chapter 5
5.1. Perspective towards stimuli 123
5.2. Organismic variables 127
5.3. Behaviour 130
5.4. Consequences 135

Chapter 6
6.1. Superordinate and subordinate themes identified for 152
aggressive and non-aggressive prisoners: Making sense
of the impact of prison on behaviour
6.2. A comparison of superordinate and subordinate themes 158
between aggressive and non-aggressive prisoners:
Making sense of violent behaviour
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List of Figures
Chapter 1
1.1. Ecological Model from the PRISM study 11
(adapted from Cooke, Johnstone & Gadon, 2008)

Chapter 2
2.1. Study selection process 34
2.2. Aggression-related factors within the Ecological Model 56

Chapter 3
3.1. Flowchart of procedural steps 70

Chapter 4
4.1. Flowchart of procedural steps 84
4.2. Number of aggressive and non-aggressive prisoners 96
who consented from each unit
4.3. Prisoners categorised by age group 96
4.4. Prisoners categorised by education level 96
4.5. Prisoners categorised by criminal history 97
4.6. Prisoners categorised by offences 97
4.7. Prisoners categorised by length of incarceration 97
4.8. Prisoners’ characteristics compared between 98
aggressive and non-aggressive prisoners
vii

Chapter 5
5.1. Flowchart of procedural steps 115
5.2. Ecological Model illustrating information from 144
the SORC analysis
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List of Appendices
Appendix A: Permission to conduct this research study in 212
Remand Prison
Appendix B: Syntax 213
Appendix C: Quality Assessment Form 214
Appendix D: Data extraction form 216
Appendix E: Information sheet for prison officers 217
Appendix F: Consent form for prison officers 219
Appendix G: Eight example case scenarios 220
Appendix H: Direct Aggressive Behaviours Checklist (DABC) 221
Appendix I: Information sheet for all prisoners 225
Appendix J: Consent form for prisoners 231
Appendix K: Interview schedule for demographic data 232
Appendix L: Demographic Data record form 236
Appendix M: Novaco Anger Scale and Provocation Inventory 237
Appendix N: Revised Pro-victim Scale 244
Appendix O: Interview schedule for SORC analysis 245
Appendix P: Information sheet for aggressive prisoners for IPA 246
Appendix Q: Information sheet for non-aggressive prisoners for IPA 249
Appendix R: Consent form for IPA 252
Appendix S: Interview schedule for Interpretative 254
Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)