institutionalization

Institutionalization refers to the process by which individuals become accustomed to living within a large social system, such as a mental health facility, prison, or long-term care setting. Over time, they may adopt the norms, routines, and behaviors of that environment, often losing skills or independence necessary for outside life. This process can make adjusting back to the community challenging, as the person may rely heavily on institutional routines and may find it difficult to adapt to new or different surroundings.