Total Institution

What is it?

An institution is a place of residence in which individuals with similar factored situations are put. They cut you off from society until they see it fit for you to

go back. Total institution is a concept

seen in specific institutions. The

criteria to make it an total institution

according to Erving Goffman is;

batch living, binary measurement,

the inmate role, and institutional perspective

Batch living- where a large number of individuals live the same schedule together.

Binary measurements- the relationship between the stereotypical way both staff and inmates see each other. Staff tend to see inmates as untrustworthy, bitter and inferior and themselves as superior, while inmates see the staff the same way

The inmate role- the very pressure of being an inmate; confined.

Institutional perspective- The perspective the institution works towards. The system specific practices.

Behind the scenes.

Control is very crucial in total institutions. Through power is when you can actually affect the inmates. Power is pushed all throughout the systems process to maintain control.

Inmates feel they are always being watched, which demonstrates real power as they try to build into the systems ideal in fear, as intended by Michel Poucault.

Erving Goffman also talks about various paths inmates take. Because of the immense power of the system, inmates have no rights or freedom, but in effort to salvage their identity they try to show it through areas provided, like the kitchen.

If inmate conversion doesn't occur, then colonization will show where the inmate will prefer the institution rather then freedom.

In an attempt to preserve identity,

inmates compromise underlife

(doing things that generally go against the rules like smuggle, slang, etc). The institution guards turn a blind eye to it since the systems practices still work. This itself would demonstrate power; the fact of inmates trying their hardest doing the smallest things smugly, trying not to get caught.

This is backed up but the institutions system itself.

Because of the system getting rid of their personality/identity, they start to find themselves in the institution itself.

Inmates are taught to beg for their needs/desires no matter how small or important.

In continuation of the occasional activity days, inmates also feel degraded in their minimalist time of freedom as they realize the humiliation. The immense power of institutions and inmates assault of self would always be a priority to the system.

All of these practices the inmates go through demonstrates the systems control.

Control is also strongly kept through the rules. Like mentioned earlier inmates are molded to follow the rules strictly. From doing something differently, to accidentally using the wrong slang, punishments are issued to kept strong control through fear over inmates.

Bibliography

file:///C:/Users/fouzi/Downloads/23103-27222-1-PB%20(1).pdf\ (This as a pdf from google. I don't have the link to this since it automatically downloads.)

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/ocw/pluginfile.php/638332/mod_resource/content/1/chapter13.pdf

NOTES

Affects

In order to survive the harsh environment put upon them, inmates can survive through 4 factors.

1. Cutting themselves off from all contact.

2.Rebel and fight the system.

3.Get into the phase of feeling colonized and pretend to act loyal to the system till free to leave.

4. Accept the systems view of themselves and fully acknowledge and accept the institutions method.

All of this was Erving Goffman's interpretation of Total Institutions.

Significance

-The makeover process is to purposely make you look "ugly" for personal defacement.

To show even more power against the inmates, the institution issues occasional dates where the inmates get a sports day, theatrical arts etc. this creates an artificial replication of society, reminding inmates of why they are here and realizing how powerless they are against the system.

The admission process consists of numerous activities that would aim to eliminate all your privacy, going down to erase your identity. From taking away your belongings, to changing the way you look- like shaving your head- the institutions are renewing you like an object to fit their ideal criteria of a person sane enough to be let out in society.

Total Institution

Tahora Khan