Psychological Effects of Solitary Confinement

What is solitary confinement? By definition, the term "solitary confinement" refers to "a punishment in which a prisoner is denied contact with any other persons." ("Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia") For centuries, people who have wronged society by inflicting suffering of the body have been punished with imprisonment. Today, it is not only used as a form of punishment, but also as a form of rehabilitation in attempts to change a person's mind as well as …

…and communities as well. However, although seemingly survivors of solitary confinement are marked with only negative effects, many fail to realize how trained and accustomed to torture the prisoner will have become. Through time, these survivors will have developed a strength that is often overlooked by their family, friends, and even mental health professionals - they are able to survive torture and live with its effects, the outcome - an incredible triumph of human will.