institutionalized
adj.adj. describing someone who has lived in a place like a hospital or prison for so long that they cannot live independently anymore. It can also describe an idea or behavior that has become a permanent part of an organization.
adj. established as a common practice or norm within an organization or culture; alternatively, describes a state of dependency resulting from long-term residence in an institution. Often used to describe systemic issues like racism or the psychological effects of incarceration.
The old man became institutionalized after forty years in prison.
Experts argue that the problem is not just a few individuals but rather institutionalized corruption within the local government.
Sociologists study how individuals become institutionalized, losing the ability to make basic autonomous decisions after decades of following the rigid, pre-determined schedules of a high-security facility.
Often follows a linking verb like 'become' or 'be'; can also be used attributively to describe systemic social patterns.