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Insociology,institutionalisation (orinstitutionalization) is the process of embedding some conception (for example abelief,norm,social role, particularvalue or mode ofbehavior) within anorganisation,social system, orsociety as a whole.
The term may also be used to refer to committing a particular individual or group to aninstitution, such as a mental or welfare institution. The term may also be used in a political sense to apply to the creation or organisation ofgovernmental institutions or particular bodies responsible for overseeing or implementing policy, for example inwelfare or development. During the period of theIndustrial Revolution in Europe many countries went through a period of "institutionalization", which saw a large expansion and development of the role of government within society, particularly into areas seen previously as the private sphere. Institutionalisation is also seen as an important part of the process ofmodernisation in developing countries, involving again the expansion and improved organisation of government structures.
During the period from 1850 to 1930 many types of institutions were created by public subscription,Parliament andlocal authorities to providehousing,healthcare,education, and financial support for individuals in need. At the upper end of the scale, public boarding schools such asEton andHarrow were founded or greatly extended to meet the growing demand for the education of the children of those incolonial service overseas. These were seen as models of social improvement, and many inferior imitations followed for the lower social orders. Virtually everyborough in the UK was required by legislation to make provision for paupers, homeless, released prisoners, convicted criminals, orphans, disabled war veterans, older people with no means of support, deaf and blind schools, schools and colonies for those with learning disabilities ormental health problems.
Distinguishing features of such institutions were frequently, but not exclusively:[1]
Many of these organisations, whilst originally expressing idealistic aspirations and aims, became "total" institutions within a generation or two of their foundation, providing in some cases cradle-to-grave housing, occupation and social control. Founding charters usually proclaimed beneficial outcomes of "reform" (or rehabilitation) of character through moral and occupation education and discipline, but in practice inmates were often trapped in a system that provided no obvious route of escape or promotion. As late as the 1950s, inBritain, several hundred thousand people lived inVictorian asylums and "colonies".
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