A total institution is a an isolated, enclosed, social system, where a person's identity and independence is taken away, and a new identity is constructed. The Masai do not have any official total institutions, but rather their whole practice is a total institution. For each of their coming of age ceremonies, their identity and independence is taken away, and they are constructed a completely new identity. They are seen in a completely different way each time they go up an age group, from a boy who is show the least respect, to a senior elder, who is shown the most respect. These changes are done away from the rest of society, and each time a ritual is completed, the boy (or warrior or elder) is re-admitted into society after leaning new behaviours and values.