What is the term for a process in total institutions involving the use of humiliating rituals?

The correct term for a process in total institutions that involves the use of humiliating rituals is "degradation ceremony." This concept was introduced by sociologist Erving Goffman, who studied total institutions such as prisons, mental hospitals, and military training camps. A degradation ceremony refers to rituals through which individuals' identities are stripped away, often resulting in humiliation and a loss of personal dignity.

In the context of total institutions, these ceremonies serve to enforce conformity and obedience among individuals, reinforcing the authority of the institution. They often entail public shaming or the enactment of rituals that demonstrate the individual's submission to the institution's norms and rules.

The other options represent different sociological concepts that do not pertain to the specific context of total institutions and their associated rituals. Demography refers to the statistical study of populations, culture shock describes the disorientation individuals feel when encountering a markedly different culture, and cultural assimilation is the process by which individuals or groups adopt the cultural traits of another group, often at the expense of their original culture. Thus, "degradation ceremony" is the most appropriate term in this scenario.