Introduction
Goffman established the total institutions theory in 1961,he revealed the role changing process of the inmate, the relationship between staff and inmate, the underlife aspect of inmate and the important characteristics and features within the total institutions. It is interesting to find out that organizations with a strong corporate culture and the total institutions he Goffman described have many things in common, analyzing the total institutions theory helps a great deal of understanding the nature of organization who carries strong culture. In the following words, the aspects on total institution theory will be explored, and the natures and similarities between them will be Illustrated and discussed by using example of school and Disney Corpoeration.
Introduction to Goffman's total institution theory
Goffman's study used number of examples such as mental hospitals, prisons, prisoners of war camps and abbeys to discus the process of re-socialization, he pointed out that total institutions control all the individual's life activities. In mental hospitals, personal stuff of inmates are taken away from them, including their cloths, identifications, watches. In militaries, soldiers are demanded to fully obey the orders. Any attitudes of unwillingness will make officers unhappy. Thus, in total institutions, every bit of inmate's life is managed by the authorities, but individuals are often taken away. The authorities usually limit inmate's communication with outside world and establish a deep initial break with past roles for inmates.
Goffman suggested four important characteristics of total institutions, "(1) all aspects of life are conducted in the same place and under the same single authority, (2) each phase of the member's daily activity wil ...