Question

The process where inmates adopt the norms, values, and behaviours of the prison sub-culture to survive the stresses of life behind bars is termed as:

• A. Socialization
• B. Prison-enculturation
• C. Prisonization
• D. Jailization

Hint:

Associate the term 'Prisonization' with its originator, Donald Clemmer. This process is central to understanding the sociology of prisons and the challenges of rehabilitation, as deep prisonization can make it difficult for an ex-inmate to reintegrate into mainstream society.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks for the specific sociological term that describes how prisoners adapt to the unique social environment of a prison by internalizing its distinct code of conduct and culture.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze the terms:

Socialization: This is a broad sociological term for the lifelong process of inheriting and disseminating norms, customs, and ideologies, providing an individual with the skills and habits necessary for participating within their own society. It is too general.
Prison-enculturation and Jailization: These are not standard or widely accepted terms in sociological or criminological literature.
Prisonization: This is the correct, specific term. It was coined by the sociologist Donald Clemmer in his 1940 book, The Prison Community. It describes the process of assimilation, where an inmate takes on, in greater or lesser degree, the folkways, mores, customs, and general culture of the penitentiary. This includes adopting the informal "inmate code."
Step 3: Final Answer:
The specific process of an inmate's assimilation into the prison sub-culture is termed Prisonization.