What is the process by which a new inmate absorbs the customs of prison society called?

The process by which a new inmate absorbs the customs of prison society is known as prisonization. This term specifically refers to the adaptation of an individual to the norms, values, and behaviors of the prison environment. When an inmate enters the correctional system, they are often faced with a distinct set of rules and social orders that differ significantly from those in the outside world.

Prisonization involves learning to navigate the social hierarchy and relationships within the prison, making adjustments to survive and thrive in that specific environment. This can include adopting behaviors, language, and coping strategies that are prevalent among the inmate population. By the end of this process, the individual may have changed their outlook and behavior to align more closely with the prison culture.

In contrast, while socialization broadly refers to the process of learning and internalizing norms and values in any context, assimilation typically describes a broader cultural integration that may not be specific to prison environments. Integration might imply a joining of different groups or systems but lacks the specific focus on the unique culture of incarceration that prisonization captures.

Thus, prisonization is the most accurate term for describing how inmates adapt to their new circumstances within the correctional system.