Social ordering of the mental ward

"Social ordering of the mental ward" (by Joel Richman) is a translation of the well-known study dedicated to the sub-culture in a British mental ward: for persons with a record of law violations. Organizational culture, rites , rituals, symbols, behavior patterns, rhetoric and mentality of both ward personnel and patients are analyzed. A special attention is given to the st ill continuing professional debate related to the ambiguity of the notion " psychopath". A need to replace a "reactionary" psychiatric culture by the " therapeutical milieu" and a relatively free status in the ward are main aut hor's conclusions.