Panopticon Overview
A panopticon is a type of institutional building designed by the English philosopher and social theorist Jeremy Bentham in the late 18th century. The concept of the panopticon is to allow a single watchman to observe (-opticon) all (pan-) inmates of an institution without the inmates being able to tell whether or not they are being watched. Although it is physically impossible for the single watchman to observe all cells at once, the fact that the inmates cannot know when they are being watched means that they are motivated to act as though they are being watched at all times. This psychological mechanism is intended to control behavior and ensure order within the institution.
The design is circular with cells arranged around the circumference, and a central observation tower in the middle. The panopticon was originally intended for use in prisons, but its principle has been applied to various institutions, such as hospitals, schools, and asylums. It has become a symbol for modern disciplinary societies and has been studied in the context of surveillance and power relations in society, especially in the works of French philosopher Michel Foucault.