Degradation, Accreditation, and Rites of Passage

Abstract

Across cultures, degradation and accreditation ceremonies mark significant movements in a person's social position and are significant features in the "status dynamics" that define a person's eligibility to engage in the social practices of a person's valued communities . The concepts of degradation and accreditation clarify important features of health, pathology, and the psychotherapeutic process, especially significant in the understanding and treatment of depression. "Negotiation" and "moral dialog" are offered as aspects of a psychotherapeutic stance that enhances eligibility and behavior potential.

Keywords: degradation, accreditation, rites of passage, psychotherapy, status dynamics, depression, moral dialog, negotiation