Total Institutions Essay -- essays research papers

Total InstitutionsIn the year 1961, the author, Erving Goffman, published a bookconsisting of text and studies on mental patients and inmates, in what he hascalled total institutions. There is a large focus on the living of mentalpatients, due to his year long study in an American institution. However, the midriff of my reading was based on the institutions and the lifestyles that are reached when placed in such establishments.When describing these institutions the author referred to them assegregated communities. This is exactly what they are. One is cut off fromthe outback(a) society, with little or no contact at all until the inmates stay isover. The character of these institutions is peerless that is an intimidatingbarrier to the outside world. One whos barriers could be as simple as afence or a locked door, but as distinct and scary as the high walls, thick forbidand razor wire topped, electrically protected fences of todays toppenitentiaries. Every institution provides a n ew world to its members, inmost palmy cases, changing the perception and reality of the inmate.Through the years of research conducted by the author, Goffmanconcluded that the total institutions in our societies breakdown into fiverough groupings. There is style to expand on each one of these groupings asthese findings are not precise, interpretation is the key when classifying theestablishments. His first conclusion was to classify all institutions that wereestablished to complaint for people who were incapable and harmless tothemselves and one another. One whitethorn relate to these institutions as themay be part of our lives on a daily basis. This may be the nursing homewhere the elderly, widow/widowed grandmother/father is living out his lastfine days on this earth. It could be one of the less than desirable childrearing homes, such as an orphanage. Or this category may also includewhere the unfortunate, the wanderer, and the vagrant all congregate, ournations homeless shelte rs. whatsoever the institution may be, it is defined bya place where one may go to receive treatment, nourishment and attentionwhen there may be no other opportunity afforded them.The second of these groupings, encompasses all of the institutionsthat care for people who are inca... ...s schedules are all imposed by the officials that run theinstitution. The goals of the institution are fulfilled by these schedules andthe tasks that are completed by the inmates, whether it may be a workservice crew agreeing the grounds or by a janitorial staff maintaining theinterior. Even though these institutions are similar in many instances toothers, the do however have more contact with the outside world and imprecate onthat contact to enhance its abilities to rehabilitate.Total institutions are ones that will take away and identity and not askquestions. One where inmates are moved as managed group and looked downupon as secretive and bitter. Treating one like they are inferior and, guiltyan d weak is no way to re-establish someones life and return them to theworld. Total institutions are incompatible with family , which is one of thestrongest values that we need to maintain in this disintegrating worldenvironment. We need to embrace family and do what we can to maintain ournatural family values all throughout our travels and daily life.1961 erving goffmanasylums essays on the social situation of mental patients and other inmates