TLDR;
This video explores the profound psychological and physiological effects of prolonged involuntary isolation, often referred to as solitary confinement. It details how such isolation can lead to chronic stress, mental health issues, and physical ailments. The video also examines the history and prevalence of solitary confinement, particularly in the United States, and contrasts it with more humane approaches to incarceration in other countries, highlighting the damage it inflicts and its failure to reduce prison violence.
- Prolonged isolation causes stress, mental health issues, and physical ailments.
- Solitary confinement is a common practice in the US, with lasting negative effects.
- Humane approaches to incarceration, like those in Norway, yield better results.
The Effects of Prolonged Isolation [0:07]
Prolonged involuntary isolation can trigger a cascade of negative effects on an individual's mental and physical health. Initially, stress hormones spike, potentially leading to chronic stress. The absence of social interaction and meaningful activities deprives individuals of social reality testing, which is essential for maintaining emotional stability and rational perceptions. This deprivation can threaten one's sense of identity and reality, leading to spiraling thoughts and impulses, setting the stage for depression, obsessions, suicidal thoughts, delusions, and hallucinations.
Neurological and Physiological Impact [1:50]
The prolonged agitation resulting from isolation can cause the brain's limbic system, responsible for regulating fear and stress, to become hyperactive. Simultaneously, the prefrontal cortex, which is crucial for reasoning and moral judgment, may shrink, impairing focus, memory, and cognition. This imbalance shifts the individual from rational thinking towards emotionality, making them more prone to anxiety, rage, and irrational actions. Isolation also disrupts physical health, leading to a loss of sense of time, sleep difficulties, heart palpitations, headaches, dizziness, hypersensitivity, and potential weight loss due to stress-induced digestive issues and poor appetite.
Solitary Confinement: A Form of Torture [2:31]
The United Nations, human rights organizations, and experts classify prolonged, forced isolation as torture. Despite this, it remains a practice endured by imprisoned people in many countries, often referred to as solitary confinement or restrictive housing. The practice is most prevalent in the United States, where, in 2019, over 120,000 prisoners were held in solitary confinement, spending 22 to 24 hours a day in small, windowless cells.
History and Criticism of Solitary Confinement [3:47]
Solitary confinement was introduced to US prisons in the late 1700s by Quaker groups as an alternative to corporal punishment, with the belief that it could foster reflection and penitence. However, the practice quickly faced criticism from public figures, including Charles Dickens, who condemned it as worse than physical torture. While its use initially dwindled, it resurged in the 1980s due to rising prison populations and more punitive laws, with prison authorities using it to maintain control amid overcrowding and increased violence.
Lasting Effects and Alternatives [4:42]
Solitary confinement is often used for minor, nonviolent infractions and disproportionately affects individuals with pre-existing mental health disorders, exacerbating their conditions. It has lasting effects, making readjustment to life outside of prison difficult, with those who have experienced it being three times more likely to show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. They commonly report personality shifts, increased anxiety and paranoia, and difficulty concentrating and connecting with others. While some states have restricted its use in certain cases, loopholes and lax enforcement persist. Other countries, like Norway, have adopted more humane approaches, investing in better accommodations, classes, and work release programs, resulting in lower rates of recidivism.