Legitimisation, also spelled as "legitimization," refers to the process of establishing or justifying something as being legitimate or acceptable according to legal, moral, or social standards. It involves conferring legitimacy to an action, practice, idea, or institution by making it conform to the prevailing norms, regulations, customs, or values of a particular society or group.
In a legal context, legitimisation typically refers to the process by which a child born out of wedlock is granted legal rights and privileges equal to those of children born within a marriage. This process essentially establishes the child's legal parentage and allows them to inherit property, receive financial support, and access other legal rights that are typically associated with children born within wedlock.
On a broader social or political scale, legitimisation can refer to the process by which a government, authority, or regime gains or maintains legitimacy in the eyes of its constituents. This may involve adhering to democratic processes, upholding the rule of law, delivering justice, ensuring social welfare, or engaging in activities that are consistent with societal values and expectations.
In psychological or social psychological contexts, legitimisation refers to the process by which individuals or groups justify and rationalize their beliefs, behaviors, prejudices, or biases. It involves providing reasons, explanations, or justifications that make their attitudes or actions seem acceptable, justified, or legitimate by aligning them with existing social norms, moral standards, or ideology.
Overall, legitimisation encompasses the processes through which something is made valid, authorized, or perceived as acceptable within legal, social, or moral frameworks.
