In the year 1961, the author, Erving Goffman, published a book
             consisting of text and studies on mental patients and inmates, in what he has
             called "total institutions". There is a large focus on the life of mental
             patients, due to his year long study in an American institution. However, the
             center of my reading was based on the institutions and the lifestyles that
             are reached when placed in such establishments.
             When describing these institutions the author referred to them as
             segregated communities. This is exactly what they are. One is cut off from
             the outside society, with little or no contact at all until the inmates stay is
             over. The character of these institutions is one that is an intimidating
             barrier to the outside world. One who's barriers could be as simple as a
             fence or a locked door, but as distinct and scary as the high walls, thick bars
             and razor wire topped, electrically protected fences of today's top
             penitentiaries. Every institution provides a new world to its members, in
             most successful cases, changing the perception and reality of the inmate.
             Through the years of research conducted by the author, Goffman
             concluded that the total institutions in our societies breakdown into five
             rough groupings. There is room to expand on each one of these groupings as
             these findings are not precise, interpretation is the key when classifying the
             establishments. His first conclusion was to classify all institutions that were
             established to care for people who were incapable and harmless to
             themselves and one another. One may relate to these institutions as the
             may be part of our lives on a daily basis. This may be the nursing home
             where the elderly, widow/widowed grandmother/father is living out his last
             fine days on this earth. It could be one of the less than desirable child
             rearing homes, such as an orphanage. Or this category may also include
             ...