Final answer:
The statement is false as the generalized other is about societal norms, not the loss of old identity in total institutions, which is described by degradation ceremonies. The generalized other is related to moral development and the learning of societal expectations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the generalized other is defined as the process by which new members of a total institution lose aspects of their old identity and are given new ones is false. The degradation ceremony is actually the concept that describes the process where new members of a total institution lose parts of their old identity and receive new ones. The generalized other represents the common behavioral expectations of general society, which individuals come to understand and learn as they develop, allowing them to conceive a sense of self as viewed by others.
Resocialization in total institutions often involves degradation ceremonies. An example is when soldiers enter the military; they must relinquish their civilian identity and conform to the new identity of a soldier through uniformity in attire and behavior. However, the concept of the generalized other is more broadly related to societal norms and the expectations placed on individuals, which is part of moral development and the learning of 'good' and 'bad' within a society.