Degradation ceremony

Definition

A degradation ceremony is a social process through which an individual's status is publicly lowered or dishonored within a community. It often involves formal or symbolic actions that mark the individual as deviant or inferior.

Related terms

Socialization:

The lifelong process through which individuals acquire norms, values, and behaviors appropriate for their society.

Stigma:

An attribute, behavior, or reputation which is socially discrediting in a particular way, causing an individual to be mentally classified by others as undesirable or discounted.

Deviance:

Actions or behaviors that violate societal norms and expectations, often leading to negative sanctions