Total Institution - Definition PDF

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Goffman (1961) Total Institution DEFINING TOTAL INSTITUTIONS "A place of residence and work where a large number of like-situated individuals, cut off from together, lead an enclosed, formally administered round of life.” (1) those established to care for persons felt to be both incapable and harmless (e be incapable but unintended threats to the community (e.g., mental hospital); (3) those who are intended threats to its welfare (e.g., jails, POW camps, concentrati worklike and instrumental task (e.g., army barracks, ships) Totality can be symbolized by barrier to social interaction with outside; through physic walls, barbed wire, forests, water, etc. Though not neat classification, nor exhaustive typology, we can view slavery as a m COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF TOTAL INSTITUTIONS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

All aspects of life are conducted in same place and under same single authority Carefully structured activities Explicit formal rulings govern structured activities Activities serve ultimate goal (economic profit; control over men/women) Strict demarcation of roles; hierarchical Social mobility between the two strata (inmate, “staff”) is grossly restricted Even TALK across the boundaries may be conducted in special tone of voice such that of dominance Just as talk across boundaries is restricted, so, too, is passage of information – especial Little choice in this total institution In some institutions, there is a kind of slavery with inmate’ full time placed at convenie possession can become contaminated Total Institutions are incompatible with family; hard to maintain; constraints on family

Inmate World within Total Institution 1. Typical for inmates to come with a “presenting culture” derived from a “home world” A perhaps section on African Diaspora; continuities is too far in the lecture; important to diversity of tongues; cultures 2. Integration into total institution may entail a kind of “disculturation” – an “Untraining” adjust to his old way of life (disconnect of African Americans with African homelands 3. Can create tensions between total Institution and homeworld; some losses are irrevocab 4. Admission to T.I. entail “trimming” or “Programming” – because new arrival [allows be fed into administrative machinery of establishment. (change in clothing, hair style, 5. May involve “obedience tests” at outset 6. Possessions are taken; and with that one’s sense of self 7. Stripped of “usual” appearance 8. May suffer personal self defacement; stripped of one’s “identity kit”...