One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Total Institution Analysis

A total institution is being described by Erving Goffman as an enclosed community whose purpose is to have full control over the people residing in that area. The word “total” in the term total institution exactly refers to total control. Prisons, mental hospitals, boarding schools are examples of total institutions. The total institution I am referring to in this context is a mental hospital which is the main setting filmed in the movie titled One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Resocialization & depersonalization processes take place in a total institution. Resocialization is the process of re-training an individual to function within a new society. One is required to let go of his previous identity and experiences after being imposed a brand new identity. Within this new society, one is expected to adapt to the environment by conforming to the new values and norms. A good example is presented by McMurphy in this movie. He is officially being labelled as a psychotic once he is being hospitalized. Meanwhile, he is required to behave appropriately within the area which the term ‘appropriate’ is judged by the institution itself. He is unable to perform his usual actions and behaviours in the institution just like how he used to be previously. As such, his unusual behaviours are being treated as …show more content…
The mental hospital is being fenced up, in the sense of preventing inmates from getting in touch with society. The inmates are being isolated from the outside world. The main reason is due to societal view of mental illness patients as individuals that could bring harm and danger to the others. Thus, all activities are conducted inside the enclosed area and only allowed interaction between inmates. For instance, fishing and watching baseball game are considered as normal events in society but not for inmates who are being locked up in the total