Final answer:
The first step in changing a person who is a resident of a total institution is a degradation ceremony, where they lose aspects of their old identity to adopt new ones aligned with the institution. This process, part of resocialization, can be gentle or stressful depending on the context and is fundamental for places like prisons or military units which operate in isolation from society.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a person is a resident of a total institution, the first step in attempting to change the person is through a process known as a degradation ceremony. This ceremony involves new members losing aspects of their old identity and receiving new ones that align with the institution's values and norms. Total institutions, such as prisons, the military, or religious convents, enforce this resocialization to ensure that individuals adhere to a specific set of rules and behaviors necessary within that context.
In many cases, this process can be gentle, such as when an elderly person moves to a senior care home and needs to let go of past belongings and aspects of their identity. However, the process can also be stressful as it involves unlearning behaviors that were once customary and adopting new ones that are required for the new environment. Total institutions are places cut off from larger society where such a transformation of self can occur more intensely due to their isolating nature.