The present study compared predictors of violence as suggested by the importation and deprivation models and the newly utilized threat appraisal and coping models. Participants included 290 female and 472 male inmates in Wisconsin state prisons who completed anonymous surveys to report seven characteristics they import to prison and to report three social stressors experienced during the deprivation and powerlessness of the prison experience. Multiple regression revealed that for both female and male inmates, violence was associated with the imported characteristics of younger age and impulsivity and with in-prison stressors from correctional staff and family. Years of incarceration was a significant predictor of violence only for males. As suggested from past research, the personality pattern of hostility was associated with violence, particularly in male inmates, and internal locus of control was associated with violence, particularly in female inmates.

The present study offers a unique comparison of workplace stressors and negative psychosocial outcomes for police officers with and without community conflict directed toward their departments, using identical measures for each sample. Participants included 233 Turkish officers from Istanbul who were presently receiving community conflict targeting their department and 207 officers from the northeastern United States who were not experiencing such community conflict. The two samples differed in age, years of police service and household size, so these variables were used as covariates in ANCOVAs that compared the two samples for four police stressors (Critical Incidents, Departmental Politics, Daily Hassles, Work-Home Conflict) and three negative psychosocial outcomes (police partner conflict, romantic partner conflict, poor self-esteem). Results revealed that the Turkish officers reported less intense stressors from Critical Incidents than did the USA officers, perhaps because the atypical stressor of community conflict directed at their department reduced concerns about more typical Critical Incidents of police work (burglaries, car accidents, barricaded suspects). The impact of this community conflict may have also been evident in the increased Work-Home Conflict, increased police partner conflict and worse self-esteem reported by the Turkish police in comparison to the USA police. A limitation of the present study is that broader cultural differences between the Turkish and USA police samples could have explained differences in their stressors and negative outcomes. Future research could compare departments with and without community conflict, but matched for nationality, size and resources. Future research could also examine whether officer concerns associated with community conflict lead to reduced job performance and decisions to leave the police force.

Muslim countries are generally considered economically behind the non-Muslim countries, culturally conservative, authoritarian, and misogynistic. Although the Muslim population, as a whole, comprises an enormous economic potential, many Muslims in the world contend with poverty and illiteracy. Furthermore, economic disparity among Muslim nations is widening. This article examines the reasons behind economic inequalities among Muslim countries and explores whether Islam hinders economic growth or not. On the contrary to general belief that Islam hinders economic growth, this study showed that Islam by itself has no effect on economic prosperity in Muslim Countries. Using cross-country regression, this empirical research displayed that the adaptation of technology and scientific innovations, investment to human capital, human development, and economic freedom are significant and necessary for economic growth in Islamic countries.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to expand available knowledge on predictors of male inmate violence by examining a large set of variables offered by the importation, deprivation and threat appraisal and coping theories. Design/methodology/approach A total of 465 male inmates from five medium-security prisons in Wisconsin completed surveys to report demographics, violence, personality, social stressors and healthy coping behaviors to help manage risk by identifying key factors. Findings Inmates reported more violence with the “imported” characteristics of younger age, less incarceration, no college experience and personality patterns of impulsiveness, hostility and internal locus of control. More violence was reported by inmates with social stressors experienced from family and correctional staff. Additionally, less violence was reported by inmates with more healthy coping behaviors of exercise and social support, especially from family and other inmates. Research limitations/implications One must remain uncertain about whether similar patterns of demographics, personality, social stressors and coping behaviors associated with inmate violence would be found in other US prisons. Future research can determine whether similar predictors of violence are found for women inmates and the consideration of ethnicity should be warranted when examining predictors of inmate violence. Practical implications Prison administrators can develop new programs to reduce social stressors and increase healthy coping behaviors found by this study to be significantly associated with reduced violence, exercise and social support from other inmates and family. Social implications This research recommends that educating and training correctional staff for a trauma-informed care approach is an integral part of lessening the effects of “pains of imprisonment” on inmate violence and healing the effects of trauma. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study provides the first direct comparison of social stressors from other inmates, correctional staff or family members outside the prison as possible predictors of male inmate violence.