Surveillance theories Foucault the Panopticon Flashcards
What do Surveillance theories look at?
methods by which surveillance is carried out, including technology such as CCTV and databases that produce profiles of individuals and groups
What does Foucault argue about surveillance?
we are increasingly controlled through self-surveillance, through what he calls ‘disciplinary power’
What is the Panopticon?
prison design
prisoner’s cells are visible to the guards from a central viewing point but prisoners cannot see the guards
not knowing if they are being watched, the prisoners must constantly behave as if they are
How is the Panopticon helpful?
surveillance turns into self-surveillance and discipline becomes self-discipline: control is invisible, inside the prisoner’s own mind
What is the Synoptic?
where everyone watches everyone e.g. motorists monitor behaviour of others by suing dashboard or helmet cameras may warn other road users that they are under surveillance and result in them exercising self-discipline
What is an Actuary and the aim of actuarial justice?
someone who calculates the risk of certain events happening, aim is to predict and prevent future offending, uses statistical information to reduce crime by compiling profiles of likely offenders
What are the strengths of this theory?
Foucault’s work has stimulated research into surveillance and disciplinary power especially into the ideas of an ‘electronic Panopticon’ that uses modern technologies to monitor us, researchers have identified other forms of surveillance including actuarial justice and profiling
What are the limitations of this theory?
Foucault exaggerates the extent of control, Surveillance may not change people’s behaviour as Foucault’s claims e.g. studies show that CCTV may fail to prevent crime because offenders often take no notice of it
