Goffman Traits Essay

His books have shown that in spite of thoroughgoing knowledgeableness, mass run to break through their own individualalities and redefine their set up roles in regulated societies (Handler, 2012, p. 179). Total grounding can be dived into fiver diametrical categories. The foremost type of creations be for harmless and helpless flock who be incapable of taking care of themselves, such as aged, little or blind. The second category of institution is mental hospitals that take in pot who are helpless and could be harmful to the society people who seek for treatment. The third category is for people who posePage 3 danger and threat to the welfare of the communities and are put into institutions such as prisons and concentration mobinggrounds. The forth type of institutions are established to create a ploughing environment among the societies, such as military camps, boarding schools and work camps. The final type of institutions is for people who want to be isolated f rom the stopover put of the world, such as church and convents (Davies, 1989, p. 77- 82). 2. 2. Four common traits of descend institution In 1961, Goffman (as cited in Schaefer, 2004, p. 82) has pointed discover four common featureors that a total institution posses.Firstly he believes, all aspect of life are conducted in the identical place and are under the control of a single authority. This trait illustrates the common ground used and a certain dominance enforced on the participants. Secondly, any activities within the institution are conducted in the company of others in the same circumstances. Thirdly, The regimen devise rules and schedule activities with bring out consulting the participants. here(predicate) we understand that the members are forced to aline to certain practices. Lastly, all aspects of life within a total institution are designed to fulfil the purpose of the organization.This explains how the members in the congregation working towards wiz goal (Sc haefer, 2004, p. 82). 2. 3. Degradation observation Degradation rite is considered to be under the scope of the sociology of moral resentment. A debasement ceremony is a rite of passage some measures used to initiate people into total institutions such as mental hospitals, prisons, and military units as discussed primarily (Garfinkel, 2011b). Degradation ceremony often aims to transform an individuals individuation and dignity to a lower form therefore allowing them to be much acceptant to the external control such as authorities.During this operation one loss his ascribed or achieved social status that he or she possess. Garfinkel (2011a, p. 420). Garfinkel (2011a, p. 420) mentions in his studies, an observer will be unable to find a debasement ceremony in societies that are demoralized, since only in total anomy are the conditions of degradation ceremonies lacking. Page 4 2. 4. Resocialization Resocialization is the process when an individuals source behaviour pattern or social role is altered or replaced. After which retraining the person psychologically to fit the standards and demeanour of the common society.Resocialization is often carried through the degradation ceremony when a person is gaffeped from his status so be able to apprehend the newly behaviour patterns and values (Scheff, 2007, p. 85). Most of the time the term rehabilitation and resocialization are misunderstood for the same significance. However these two are interpreted the same way. Rehabilitation is just a small part or process of resocialization (Weinstein, 1982, p. 269). Goffmans mental institute hospital study is a trusty example to illustrate resocialization. The staffs usually try to instil in patients that they had through with(p) something wrong in the society.And if they wanted to idle themselves from the hospital and get patronise to the society, they would have to change themselves (Weinstein, 1982, p. 272). . 3. Self- disapproval My two-year experience in t he capital of Singapore Police Force (National Service) was interesting and far challenging. The first six months of the bank line was known as the stay-in training or otherwise known as total institution from the sociological spot. Our intake, which had approximately 130 cadets, were required 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 opinion of voice. The second day all the cadets were issued with uniforms and had to shave our heads bald. We were given a time table on what had to be done everyday from the time we woke up to the amount of water we drunk to the schedule time that we had our Page 5 meals. We had no say and were just do as we were told. Failing to assent led to punishments.The main purpose of this institution was to instil school into distributively one of us as we were preparing to represent the countrys knowledgeable security. Therefore to successfully carry 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 locations The four antithetic perspectives would help us understand total institution from a clearer view.The functionalist perspective has three different categories manifest function, latent function and dysfunction (Henslin, 2011, p. 16). If we take military camp as an example, the manifest function would be to recruit people to cheer the country to maintain peace and order. The latent function is a surreptitious function such as creating job opportunities and instilling values and discipline into the cadets. The dysfunction would be if the c adets were to use the tactics and teachings learned in the camp for a negative purpose while off their duty. Conflict perspective is a common issue faced when looked at the military.The cadets who flow into the camp on the first day come from a many different backgrounds. Conflicts could find 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 female where to stay home to look later the family while men went out for war to protect their country primarily due to their physics. However the norm on this perspective is being abolished and we tend to find female soldiers and officers involved in the military.According to my self reflection inter transaction perspective can be classified has the communicatory and non- verbal communication styles used by the superiors, such as the authoritative gradation of voice. Page 6 5. Conclusion We have clearly understood the want of the five different types of social institution in a society. The bear witness had also covered the common traits present in the institutions. Also learnt the richness of degradation ceremony while resocialization and how its required to kill the former brain 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 feel less worthy of themselves. They are taught to obey their superiors, out of fear. In most of the occasions they are treated as amount 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 negative lens, depending on the situation and context. Page 7 6. Reference list Davies, C. (1989). Goffmans thought of the total institution Criticism and revisions.Human Studies, 12, 77-95. El-Mafaalani, A. (2009). Do underachievers need sociology. diary 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.