Goffman Traits Essay

His books confound sh bear that in spite of bestow creation, tribe tend to break through their own soulalities and redefine their established fibres in regulated societies (Handler, 2012, p. 179). inwardness installation can be dived into fin distinguishcapable categories. The first type of institutions argon for harmless and disoriented people who be incapable of taking upkeep of themselves, such(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) as aged, poor or blind. The piece year of institution is psychogenic hospitals that take in people who are helpless and could be prejudicial to the society people who seek for treatment. The third category is for people who pose paginate 3 endangerment and threat to the wel colde of the communities and are put into institutions such as prisons and concentration large numbers. The forth type of institutions are established to create a browseing purlieu among the societies, such as military camps, boarding schools and thrash camps. Th e final type of institutions is for people who want to be isolated from the rest of the world, such as perform and convents (Davies, 1989, p. 77- 82). 2. 2. Four common traits of fall institution In 1961, Goffman (as cited in Schaefer, 2004, p. 82) has pointed come forward four common factors that a total institution posses.Firstly he believes, alone aspect of life are conducted in the kindred place and are under the control of a single authority. This trait illustrates the common establish used and a certain dominance compel on the participants. Secondly, any activities within the institution are conducted in the company of others in the same hazard. Thirdly, The authorities devise rules and schedule activities without consulting the participants. Here we assure that the members are forced to conform to certain practices. Lastly, all aspects of life within a total institution are designed to fulfil the excogitation of the make-up.This explains how the members in the gr oup working towards one re main(prenominal)der (Schaefer, 2004, p. 82). 2. 3. Degradation communion Degradation ceremony is considered to be under the scope of the sociology of moral resentment. A adulteration ceremony is a rite of passage sometimes used to initiate people into total institutions such as mental hospitals, prisons, and military units as discussed to begin with (Garfinkel, 2011b). Degradation ceremony in truth much aims to transform an case-by-cases identity and dignity to a set about form therefore allowing them to be more open to the external control such as authorities.During this swear out one loss his ascribed or achieved social office that he or she possess. Garfinkel (2011a, p. 420). Garfinkel (2011a, p. 420) mentions in his studies, an observer leave be unable to find a debasement ceremony in societies that are demoralized, since only in total anomie are the conditions of degradation ceremonies lacking. foliate 4 2. 4. Resocialization Resocializat ion is the process when an individuals actor behaviour pattern or social role is altered or replaced. After which retraining the individual psychologically to fit the standards and behavior of the common society.Resocialization is often carried through the degradation ceremony when a person is stripped from his status so be able to apprehend the new behaviour patterns and determine (Scheff, 2007, p. 85). some of the time the term rehabilitation and resocialization are construe for the same significance. However these two are interpreted the same way. Rehabilitation is just a splendid part or process of resocialization (Weinstein, 1982, p. 269). Goffmans mental institute hospital study is a penny-pinching example to illustrate resocialization. The staffs usually try to infuse in patients that they had done something wrong in the society.And if they treasured to free themselves from the hospital and get back to the society, they would dupe to change themselves (Weinstein, 19 82, p. 272). . 3. Self- denunciation My two-year experience in the Singapore Police Force (National Service) was interesting and far challenging. The first six months of the job was known as the stay-in training or otherwise known as total institution from the sociological perspective. Our intake, which had approximately cxxx cadets, were necessary to stay at a camp for 6 months situated at the outskirts where there were no other human dwelling.I remember the very first day when we entered, we were shouted at by the superiors for no reason and were told to strip naked to have our bodies checked for tattoos. The superiors projected their dominance through their smelling of voice. The second day all the cadets were issued with uniforms and had to shave our heads bald. We were disposed(p) a time table on what had to be done everyday from the time we woke up to the touchstone of water we drunk to the schedule time that we had our scallywag 5 meals. We had no say and were just do as we were told. Failing to comply led to punishments.The main purpose of this institution was to instil correct into apiece one of us as we were preparing to represent the unpolisheds internal security. wherefore to victoriously broadcast out the resocialization we were put through the degradation ceremony where we had to shave our head bald and given uniforms and forcefully told what to do. Here we are able to associate all four traits that were identified by Erving Goffman. 4. Four major theoretical perspectives The four different perspectives would help us understand total institution from a clearer view.The make foralist perspective has three different categories manifest function, potential function and dysfunction (Henslin, 2011, p. 16). If we take military camp as an example, the manifest function would be to recruit people to protect the state to maintain peace and order. The latent function is a hidden function such as creating job opportunities and instilling v alues and discipline into the cadets. The dysfunction would be if the cadets were to use the tactics and teachings well-read in the camp for a negative purpose darn off their duty. Conflict perspective is a common issue faced when looked at the military.The cadets who persist into the camp on the first day bring from a many different backgrounds. Conflicts could turn off not only between the views of superior and the cadets but could arise among members itself when work in teams due to the different culture, values and beliefs. Feminist perspective involves the history which back dates to when feminine where to stay home to look after the family while men went out for war to protect their country mainly due to their physics. However the norm on this perspective is being abolished and we tend to find female person soldiers and officers involved in the military.According to my self reflection interaction perspective can be categorize has the verbal and non- verbal communication styles used by the superiors, such as the authoritative tone of voice. scalawag 6 5. Conclusion We have clearly tacit the necessity of the five different types of social institution in a society. The essay had also cover the common traits present in the institutions. Also learnt the brilliance of degradation ceremony while resocialization and how its required to kill the former sense of an individual. However I personally believe three out of five of the total institutions are not preferable places to be at.The fact that many are not offered opportunities to work at their own free will deprives them from others and makes them get less worthy of themselves. They are taught to obey their superiors, out of fear. In most of the occasions they are treat as numbers than a human being. Therefore allowing an individual to loose his or her sense of identity. Goffmans discussion encouraged me to look at total institution characteristics, such as resocialization, through a positive and ne gative lens, depending on the situation and context. Page 7 6. Reference list Davies, C. (1989). Goffmans impression of the total institution Criticism and revisions.Human Studies, 12, 77-95. El-Mafaalani, A. (2009). Do underachievers need sociology. Journal of social science education, 8(4), 35-42. Garfinkel, H. (n. d. ). Conditions of successful degradation ceremonies. (2011). American Journal of Sociology, 6(5), 420-424. GORDON MARSHALL. degradation ceremony. A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia. com. 16 Apr. 2013 . Handler, R. (2012). Whats up,doctor goffman? tell us where the action is. Journal of the royal Anthropological Institute, 18, 179-190. Henslin, J. (2011). Essentials of sociology a down-to-earth approach. (9TH ed. , pp. 16-18). Boston,America PEARSON.