The stripping away of an individual's former identity within a total institution is typically both symbolic and literal.

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In a total institution, such as a prison or military boot camp, individuals are often stripped of their former identities through a process of deindividuation, which can be both symbolic (e.g. the removal of personal clothing and possessions) and literal (e.g. the assignment of a new name or number). This process is intended to break down the individual's sense of self and social ties, in order to facilitate their integration into the institution's culture and hierarchy.

The Stripping Away of an Individual's Former Identity Within a Total