SOCIAL CONTROL IN A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTRE

Abstract

Consideration is given in this thesis to the relationship between social control in a treatment institution for emotionally disturbed children and the response to it by the inmate population. Two contrasting modes of social control are compared — authoritarian and permissive. Inmate response is analyzed in terms of attitudes toward staff and institution, co-operation with staff, group solidarity, integration, informal leadership among the inmates, and overt behaviour. The research was carried out in Hamilton, Ontario at Mount Saint Joseph Institute, a residential treatment centre for emotionally disturbed children.