K101 Characteristics of Institutions
(Goffman, 1968)
Inmate Role
Stripped of past lives.
Lose what was
previously individual
to them. Loss of roles
they had.
New identity chosen &
imposed on them by the
institution
Batch living
People all treated
the same, not as
individuals
Controlled by strict rules
with little freedom
Institutional
Perspective
Events & activities
designed to create
a sense of
community
Binary Management
Staff & inmates
controlled & kept
separate by two different
sets of rules
Treat each other with
suspicion. Staff feel superior
to inmates
Total Institution
A place where people live &
work separate from society,
following strict procedures that
determine all aspects of their
lives
Effect on people: apathy, lack of
initiative, lack of interest in outside
world, submissiveness, resignation
Cause of institutionalisation: (Barton,
1959) - loss of contact with friends &
family, loss of possessions & personal
effects, nothing to do, poor environment,
staff bossiness, lack of prospects,
sedation drugs
How people adjust - fighting
back/becoming rebellious,
isolating themselves/becoming
socially withdrawn, pretending
to follow rules, accepting
peoples views of them
Example - Cedar Court, batch living
(residents not treated as
individuals but collective group,
little choice or privacy), Binary
management (bedroom staff
operate own subculture, treat
people differently from nursing
staff), Inmate role (residents are
'serviced' by staff, staff talk about
residents and discipline them)