Final answer:
The convent is an example of a 'total institution,' where individuals undergo resocialization through a degradation ceremony and adhere to strict rules.
Step-by-step explanation:
The convent Joan joined can be best described as a total institution. In such institutions, individuals are isolated from the broader society and subjected to an environment where their previous identities are stripped away during a degradation ceremony, after which they must adhere to the strict rules and regulations of the new environment. This is part of the process of resocialization, where individuals are systematically trained to adapt to the institution's way of life, whether it's a prison, military brigade, convent, or any other similar setting.