Distantiation

This wound refers to the tendency to 'place away from oneself, physically or socially, those that one does not value.'

It is a natural and understandable reaction to social fear of an individual or group to try to maintain a distance from those that one fears.  This is a survival mechanism in extreme cases, but in lesser cases, the social harm done to those persons or groups who are placed at a distance may be very great, and severely outweigh any social advantage to the individual or group doing the wounding.

For instance, there is very strong social support in the United Kingdom for the 'Prison Works' and 'Lock 'em up' lobby, especially regarding young offenders; yet most analyses of the Prison system show that it is among the least effective methods of countering further offending, and in the case of Young Offenders, may even act as an 'Academy of Crime', ensuring further offending.

The history of the institutionalization of the mentally different ('Mentally Ill' and 'Developmentally Challenged') shows that rather than solving the social problem of difference, it in fact created a whole new series of social problems for society to deal with.

The rise in 'exclusions' from school of young people with behaviour problems is a further example.  Excluding young people from education and socializing virtually guarantees poorer future outcomes for society as a whole whilst allowing schools to improve their statistics in the short run.  Additionally, excluded pupils are very likely to become young offenders because of their exclusion.

Segregation and Congregation

There are two major means of carrying out Distantiation- Segegation and Congregation.  Segregation refers to placing a person or group away from valued society.  Congregation refers to the gathering together of such social outcasts into specific buildings or locales.

Segregation:

Segregation

Congregation:

Congregation

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