Erving Goffman is known for his contributions to the field of sociology. Goffman studied social interactions through microsociology and created a framework for studying social interaction in everyday life. In Goffman’s study of mental institutions, a participant observational study, he constructed the framework for defining social situations as total institutions. In his essay, “Characteristics of Total Institutions,” Goffman discusses the totalistic features as well as the mortification processes that effect members of the institution. While this concept has been used by many researchers and writers, it lacks scientific methods and measurements of data collection and may contain biases. However, this does not discredit Goffman’s model but …show more content…
The total institution model developed by Goffman omits important characteristics such as the therapeutic effects of institutionalization. Recent research regarding mental health has pointed out weakness in Goffman’s model. Studies have proven the health benefits of certain treatments. Using Goffman’s model, I will illustrate a treatment facility that has been scientifically proven to be an effective treatment method. By examining certain totalistic features of mental health settings and the therapeutic benefits they provide, I have explored an “ideal” setting that I believe would aid in the healing …show more content…
Medicalization commonly refers to the processes of “defining a problem in medical terms, usually as an illness or disorder, or using a medical intervention to treat it” (Barker 3). So, the idea of holistic healing presents a threat to orthodox medicine. Despite this fact, holistic and mindful therapy has gain considerable attention in modern day society. One important aspect of this treatment is that it pulls away from the dominance of doctors; and instead looks towards the individual’s understanding of his/her illness. The definition of health looks to the wellness of the mind, body, and spirit, allowing for the emphasis of individual responsibility. Studies regarding mindfulness as a form of alternative medicine have provided scientifically proven evidence on the effectiveness of holistic treatment. There are many different forms of holistic treatment including, meditation, mindfulness, one-to-one discussion, group discussions, and yoga. Neuropsychological studies have revealed that mindfulness can, in fact, change the structure of the brain, and therefore are associated with, “increased learning and memory capacity (Holzel et al., 2011b), (ii) improved self-regulatory efficacy, and (iii) greater interoceptive awareness” (Shonin, Gordon 846). Studies have also considered various mechanisms in which mindfulness can improve mental health. The evidence-based mechanisms “suggest that mindfulness targets