ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Institutional syndrome

Institutional syndrome is when a person who lives or works in a big organization like a jail, hospital or orphanage, starts to behave differently from how they used to. It's like when you move to a new house or school and you start changing your habits to fit in with the new people around you.

For example, when people live in jail for a long time, they might start feeling trapped and helpless. They might stop caring about personal hygiene, lose interest in hobbies or even forget how to make their own decisions. They might become more aggressive or more passive than usual, and they might even forget how to communicate properly with people outside their institution.

This behavior change happens because people are surrounded by the same people and environment every day, and they become used to the routines and rules of the institution. This makes them feel like they don't have control over their own lives, and they start to feel like the institution is their whole world.

But the good news is, people can recover from institutional syndrome with the right support and care. This might include therapy, counseling, education or even just spending time with people outside of the institution. With the right help, people can rebuild their self-esteem, regain their independence and learn how to live a fulfilling life outside of the institution.