Synthesized answer
The central thesis of Erving Goffman's book "Asylums" is that the institution itself is the most significant factor in shaping a mental-hospital patient. This means that a patient's reactions and adjustments are more a product of their experience as an inmate within the institution, rather than solely their illness [1]. Goffman suggests that these inmate reactions and adjustments are common across various types of institutions, implying that the dynamics of confinement and institutional life are universal to some degree [1].
The passages provided focus on this core thesis regarding the impact of institutions on patients. However, they do not elaborate on how to explain other specific key concepts from the book in my own words. Therefore, while the overarching idea about the institution's importance is clear, further details on explaining other concepts are missing.
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
Title: Asylums. Essays on the Social Situation of Mental Patients and Other Inmates by Erving Goffman --- Google Books --- Title: Asylums by Erving Goffman Description: "It is the thesis of this book that the most important factor in forming a mental-hospital patient is his institution, not his illness, and that his reactions and adjustments are those of inmates in other types of institutions as well"--Cover Categories: Medical Pages: 408 Snippet: It is the thesis of this book that the most important factor in forming a mental-hospital patient is the institution, not the illness, and…