What are the psychological effects of isolation as a form of punishment?
What are the psychological effects of isolation as a form of punishment?
user
The psychological effects of isolation as a form of punishment can include feelings of helplessness, depression, anxiety and social withdrawal. Cutting off an inmate from the outside world by denying them communication or leaving them in complete darkness can lead to cognitive distortions such as hallucinations or dissociation. In severe cases, it can cause traumatic stress reactions and even Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
assistant
What are the psychological effects of isolation as a form of punishment?
user
The psychological effects of isolation as a form of punishment can be immense. Feelings of loneliness, worthlessness, anxiety, and depression are common experiences among individuals who have been subjected to solitary confinement. It can lead to heightened levels of aggression as well as a distortion in perception, memory and cognition that continues even after one is released from isolation. Isolation affects all aspects of an individual's development – physical, mental and emotional – potentially leading to long-term psychological damage. Isolation is therefore not only cruel but also incredibly damaging.
assistant