The aim of this study is to explore social interactions in the spatial and material environment within everyday life at special youth homes in Sweden, where youths with psychosocial problems, or criminal behavior are cared for involuntary. A microethnographic approach was chosen, and data was collected through participant observation. A theory integrating analysis, using Burke’s (1969) dramatistic pentad as a tool for structuring the data and Goffman’s (1956; 1961) dramaturgical perspective was undertaken. The findings demonstrate that the staff’s control over settings and objects also means control over the definition of what kind of place the special youth home is, and what takes place there. This is shown through a decorous behavior of sociomaterial control practices, rather than care practices, by the staff. This study contributes to knowledge on spaces and objects as crucial parts of care practices highlighting the intentions inscribed in institutional design and objects.

本研究的目的是探索瑞典特殊青年之家日常生活中空间和物质环境中的社会互动，那里有心理社会问题或犯罪行为的青年被非自愿照顾。选择了一种微观民族志方法，并通过参与观察收集数据。采用 Burke (1969) 的戏剧五部曲作为构建数据的工具和 Goffman (1956; 1961) 的戏剧视角，进行了一种整合分析的理论。研究结果表明，工作人员对环境和对象的控制也意味着对特殊青年之家的定义以及在那里发生的事情的控制。这通过员工的社会物质控制实践而不是护理实践的高雅行为表现出来。