Institutionalism and the need of psychological well-being — The author is describing the prison as a very closed social system with all the characteristics of a total institution. A long stay resident becomes the victim of secondary psychological dysfunctions called institutionalism syndrome. These secondary dysfunctions are mixed up with some primary psychosocial dysfunctioning.
Both cumulate in a need of psychosocial well-being. The frequent somatic complaints in the residents of prisons often refer to psychosocial problems. When the real psychosocial needs and demands are not fulfilled the desocializing effect of staying in the prison is inevitably accentuated.