(#68) Between Freedom and Confinement: Social Control and Community Dynamics in an Open Prolonged Psychiatric Hospitalization Ward for Traumatized Women

Abstract: This qualitative study examines the dynamics of social control within an open psychiatric ward in a mental health hospital in Beer Yaacov, Israel. Although admission is voluntary, the ward functions in many respects as a closed community. Drawing on criminological and therapeutic frameworks, the study explores how formal mechanisms of control, such as institutional rules and professional oversight, interact with informal mechanisms, including peer norms and unwritten social sanctions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 women inpatients with histories of trauma and eating disorders and 10 healthcare professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, and nursing staff. The analysis identified key themes related to autonomy and confinement, trauma and interpersonal relations, subgroup formation, trust and authority, and the enforcement of rules through both official and unofficial means. Findings suggest that while voluntary admission supports a sense of autonomy and readiness for change, the ward's structured environment also produces forms of control resembling those of closed institutions. The study highlights the complex relationship between social control and therapeutic processes, with implications for trauma-informed and gender-sensitive psychiatric care.

Short Description: This qualitative study examines social control in a voluntary open psychiatric ward in Beer Yaacov, Israel. Based on interviews with 15 women inpatients with trauma and eating disorders and 10 healthcare professionals, it explores how formal rules and informal peer norms shape daily life. Findings reveal tensions between autonomy and confinement, the influence of trauma on relationships, and the coexistence of structured control, trust, and community solidarity within a therapeutic setting.

Name of Sponsoring Organization(s): John Jay College of Criminal Justice