What is Foucault's theory of panopticism?

Foucault's theory revolves around the rise of the surveillance society. He based his theory on the design of the panopticon, which is a prison that has cells all around and a tower for the guard in the middle with a beaming light. What this means is that the guards in the tower can see all the prisoners but the prisoners cannot see them. This will alter the behaviour of the prisoners, as they constantly have the feeling that they are being watched (even though there might not be a guard in the tower). Foucault uses the example of the panopticon to argue that technological advances such as CCTV changes people's behaviour in everyday life. Our everyday actions become more and more monitored through the feeling of being watched.

ED
Answered by Eva D. Sociology tutor

3368 Views

See similar Sociology GCSE tutors

Related Sociology GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How do I approach an OCR fifty-mark essay?


Explain how material deprivation can cause class differences in educational achievement.


What does the term nuclear family mean?


How long should I spend on each question?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences