What do you think these terms mean? Resocialization and Total Institutions

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 ff0 ff0

What happens in Resocialization under a total institution? The goal is to drastically change a person’s identity 2-step process – 1 st : person’s identity must be erased/re- programmed – 2 nd : 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” SI SI

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%.

PowerPoint 12 – The End