"If you're part of something for more than 2 years, your thoughts, words and actions become 'instituionalized." This "observation on "life," was shared with me by a truly great philosopher, Kim Jagr.
Never heard of him? You probably wouldn't.
Kim was a sociologist in a "boy's prision" where he and I worked together, many years ago. He was one of those "beautiful blond, blue-eyed, nordic types," who seemed completely out of place, in a juvenile detention institution, whose staff and inmate population, were practically all black. He was also, one of the most intelligent individuals I have ever met and a truly "great philosopher."
"When the employees here become 'institutionalized,' they are like as if they were trapped in a glass cage. They can see, hear, speak and act, but almost everything they do reflects the 'value system' of this institution. When that occurs, there is no reasoning with them. They are so 'in a rut' with what they think, say and do, that they reject any thought that is different. That's why this place only gets worse, not better."- Kim Jagr
Have you worked for, worshiped at, shopped at, "buddied with," some employer, church, store, "hung out with" the "same (fill in the blank, here)?" If you answer "yes," you MAY BE "institutionalized."
Many and perhaps, most times, for all of us, being institutionalized in some way(s) is OK, even desireable.
I trust my Physician and s/he has treated me for a long time.
My favorite store(s) "shops comfortably" for me. I like their prices, service and personnel.
But when ANYONE comes to a point where, they BELIVE so strongly in some area, where they are a part of any institution, that they find themself "oversensitive" to criticsm, defending with "unskilled or unreasonable" arguments, thinking that they're an "insider" who knows more than anyone who is an "outsider" and thinking it's "us against an ignorant, uncaring world," they MAY have become so "institutionalized, and in a glass cage," that those around them, who are not part of (fill in the blank, here) "leave them," in some way.
The best folks they know, will take the time to discuss the situation with them or even argue with them. Those people "care".
Others, "just steal away," from that person, mentally and emotionally. They don't want to attempt and even avoid, trying to reason with them. They don't "want to confuse with facts, because their mind is already made up."
"I've been there and done that." I have become "institutionalized" and (speaking for myself ONLY here) so "addicted" to a certain institution of which I was a part for over 40 years, that I was in a "glass cage," for quite awhile, where that specific institution was concered.
"How do I 'reach' a person I love so much, when they, not only don't listen, but they get angry when I try to reason with them?"
You can't. The "shattering" of the glass cage and recovery from "institutionalization," has to come from within
the individual, themself. Sometimes this insight comes as an "aha," a "learning moment," when a "drastic something" occurs that opens their eyes.
All my "real friends," believe in me and love me, sometimes in spite of me, even when they know I'm institutionalized, in some way. In some instances, they may be "living for the day" when one of their favorite people returns from the "glass cage."
Dr. Walter Wayne Hopewell
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