TOTAL INSTITUTIONS. ESSAYS ON THE SOCIAL SITUATION OF PATIENTS IN PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS AND RESIDENTS OF OTHER TOTAL INSTITUTIONS

Discover the fascinating social analysis by Erving Goffman, one of the most prominent sociologists of the 20th century. His work "Total Institutions" is a profound study of the mechanisms of power and influence exerted on individuals by closed systems such as psychiatric hospitals, prisons, and monasteries. Immerse yourself in a world where the boundaries between patient and institution blur, and the system becomes an end in itself.

• In-depth analysis of control mechanisms in total institutions
• Case study of psychiatric hospitals and other closed systems
• Work by one of the most prominent sociologists of the 20th century
• Inspiring reading for students of sociology, psychology, and social sciences
• Insightful look at power and influence relations in society
• A book that provokes reflection on the role of institutions in the life of the individual
• A classic of sociology that has not lost its relevance

Erving Goffman (1922-1982) was a professor in Chicago, Berkeley, and other renowned universities. He wrote a dozen books, including "Stigma", "The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life", and "Total Institutions". In this last work, he argues that it is not our personality traits that are dysfunctional, but that the system condemns us to dysfunctionality, namely those total institutions whose character lies not in helping patients or resocializing inmates, but in the own, total, egoistic, institutionally organized interests of the institutions themselves.

Goffman writes that fenced-off organizations have a characteristic that they share with few other social entities: it is the duty of the individual to visibly engage in the activities of the organization at a specific time, which means concentration of attention and muscle effort, concentration on the activity being performed. This mandatory being absorbed in the activity of the organization is usually regarded as a symbol of both the individual's commitment and his attachment and that he accepts the way in which his participation in the organization affects his own nature. Therefore, any study of how individuals adapt to being identified and defined must focus on how they cope with demonstrating that the activities of the organization absorb them.... And this is just the beginning of his reflections, often revealing the pathologies of this type of institution...

The book "Total Institutions" is not only a sociological analysis, but also a profound study of human nature and its relationship with the system. It is a must-read for all who want to understand the mechanisms of power and influence that institutions exert on us. It is also an inspiration to reflect on one's own place in society and the role we play in its functioning. This publication helps to understand how individuals adapt to life in closed systems and what strategies they adopt to preserve their identity and dignity.

Edition: Pages: 400, Format: 128x197 mm. Year of publication: 2023, cover: paperback. Publisher: vis-a-vis Etiuda. Number of pages: 400. Cover: paperback. Format: 128x197 mm.