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Resocialization and Total Institutions. What do you think these terms mean?. Resocialization. The process of being re-trained to function within a new society Break with past experiences and the learning of new values and norms. Voluntary vs. Involuntary Resocialization.
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Resocialization and Total Institutions What do you think these terms mean?
Resocialization • The process of being re-trained to function within a new society • Break with past experiences and the learning of new values and norms
Voluntary vs. Involuntary Resocialization • Voluntary: Individuals choose to assume a new status • Religious conversion • Moving to a new country and adapting • Joining the military • Involuntary: Against a person’s wishes • Prison • Mandatory counselling • Drug rehabilitation
Resocialization “out of” Sports • One’s sense of self changes when you stop playing • Voluntary (ex. Retirement) • Involuntary (ex. Injuries) • What factors could make this transition more difficult? • 66% of retired NFL players have emotional problems • 1 of 6 divorced after 6 months • Cricket players have highest suicide rates among retired players • Key to success is to re-identify one’s sense of self
Resocialization in Total Institutions • Total Institutions (Goffman): Setting in which people are isolated from the rest of society for a specific period of time and under tight control • Ex. Prisons, Boot Camps, Monasteries, Psychiatric Hospitals
Examples of Total Institutions (Goffman) • Care for people both harmless and incapable • Orphanages, nursing homes • Care for people incapable of looking after themselves • Mental hospitals • Institutions to protect the community • Jails, concentration camps • Institutions to pursue work-like tasks • Colonial compounds, work camps, boarding school, army barracks • Retreats from the world • Monasteries, convents
Athletes in Total Institutions • Aaron Hernandez – Football Player in Prison • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIJAOnPqff0
What happens in Resocialization under a total institution? • The goal is to drastically change a person’s identity • 2-step process • 1st: person’s identity must be erased/re-programmed • 2nd: must be replaced with an institutionally created one
How is this new identity built? • Number of ways • Uniform appearance (haircut, clothing, etc.) • Humiliation • Rename • Rewards and punishments • Expectation of conformity • Encouragement
Is this approach effective? • Can create dependency on the institution • Inmates who, upon release, commit a crime in order to go back to jail as it is the only life they know • Unable to resocialize outside of prison
Total Institutions and Resocialization – “The Shawshank Redemption” • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsiFanovOSI
Release and Recidivism • When inmates are released from correctional institutions, the hope is that they will not experience recidivism. • The return to illegal activity after release. • Why do you think these people return to illegal activities?
Release and Recidivism • In one study, about 40% of released prisoners had been arrested again or had had their parole revoked. • Other studies have found recidivism rates as high as 75%.