ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF TOTAL INSTITUTIONS - THE INMATE WORLD (FROM PRISON, STUDIES IN INSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATION AND CHANGE - SEE NCJ-02358)

• NCJ Number: 6956
• Author(s): E Goffman
• Date Published: 1961
• Length: 53 pages
• Corporate Author: Holt, Rinehart and Winston
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: CHAPTER 1, P 15-67

Annotation

DISCUSSION OF ISOLATED SOCIAL SYSTEMS SUCH AS PRISONS AND THE WAYS VOLUNTARY AND INVOLUNTARY MEMBERS ADJUST TO THEIR ENVIRONMENTS.

Abstract

THE CENTRAL FEATURE OF TOTAL INSTITUTIONS CAN BE DESCRIBED AS A BREAKDOWN OF THE PHYSICAL BARRIERS WHICH ORDINARILY SEPARATE SLEEP, PLAY AND WORK. MEMBERS OF THESE INSTITUTIONS MUST ENGAGE IN ALL ACTIVITIES WITHIN ONE GEOGRAPHIC AREA. THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES THE PROCESSES BY WHICH AN INMATE-MEMBER'S PRIOR IDENTITY IS MODIFIED TO CONFORM TO INSTITUTION REQUIREMENTS. THESE RANGE FROM AN ENFORCED MODE OF DRESS THROUGH DELIBERATE PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT.