total institution

is any institution in which the time and space of subordinates are carefully monitored and restricted, such as prison, boarding schools, communes.

When patterns of behaviour and ideology become relatively discrete.j enduring. and autonomous, we call these patterns institutions. The mostextreme form of Institutions are those which Erving Coffman called 'total Institutions': the military, prisons, boarding schools. communes. cults. psychiatric hospitals, and so on. These are organizations that govern virtually all facets of their members' lives. Individuals are typicaly stripped of previous social identities: their heads may be shaved. their clothes are replaced with uniforms, they lose access to manyof their personal possessions. theirever)day behaviour Is strictly regulated. and they afe subjec t to the <lbsoIute authority d their Immediate superiors. In this highly suggestive state they leam the Institution's uniquew<lysofdoing, thinking,and feeling that may not necessarily be shared by the society <It I<lrge. This experience is tr.lnsiormative. and years <liter leaving such an institution it continues to play a profound role . . . the ildividual's thoughts <lnd feelings. (monaghan 'very short introduction' 62)

total institution, n.All

total institution