Isolation in prison, particularly long-term solitary confinement, is controversial due to the adverse effects it can have on mental health. It can exacerbate existing mental health problems, create new ones, and lead to a loss of social skills. However, some experts disagree and the issue is complicated by overcrowding and violence in prisons.
Isolation is a method of confinement that isolates a prisoner from general interaction with others. Often used in prison settings, long-term solitary confinement is a controversial issue on many fronts. Some experts believe that the adverse effects of solitary confinement can do lasting and serious harm to targeted individuals; critics can go so far as to refer to prolonged detention as a form of torture. Some of the negative effects of solitary confinement can include the exacerbation of existing mental problems, the development of new mental problems, and a decreased ability to assimilate in prison or out of society.
One of the most commonly cited negative effects of isolation is the exacerbation of mental health problems. Prisoners subjected to long-term confinement are often incarcerated in maximum security prisons following convictions for extremely serious or particularly violent crimes. Unsurprisingly, the instance of mental health problems among this population is consistently high. Some studies have suggested that depriving people with existing mental health problems of social contact, or even basic cognitive stimulation such as reading, can significantly increase symptoms of depression, anxiety, anger and other mental conditions.
In addition to making existing problems worse, some experts believe isolation can create mental health problems in previously stable individuals. By nature, humans are highly social creatures; normal life is conducted on an intensely social level with a high priority given to interactions between family, friends and romantic partners. Confinement experiments on other social animals, such as monkeys, have consistently shown a high correlation between the development of severe psychological problems and social deprivation. Among human prisoners, some experts cite dramatic increases in levels of depression, panic disorders and suicidal tendencies after long periods of confinement.
Some studies have also suggested that one of the most significant negative effects of isolation is the loss of social skills. After a long period of confinement, some individuals may lose the ability to communicate effectively, pick up on social cues, or adapt to any type of society. Since confinement is often used as a tool to reduce prison violence and danger, this particular topic becomes a critical talking point in the confinement policy controversy: whether inmates are effectively made less able to adapt to prison life through confinement, some experts suggest the tactic can do far more harm than good.
The negative effects of isolation are not universally shared by all experts. Furthermore, since people can have very different psychological reactions to stimuli, it is difficult to get a clear picture of the situation despite extensive research. Unfortunately, many modern prison systems are overwhelmed by problems of overcrowding and violence, leaving prison officials with limited means to address the serious problems of inmates. Despite the negative effects of lockdown, the tactic is likely to continue to be used until a practical and less harmful solution is discovered.
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