‘Panopticism’ is a concept that refers to external spying. Who among the following coined this term?

Correct option is B

Explanation:

The term ‘Panopticism’ was conceptualized and elaborated by Michel Foucault, a French philosopher and theorist, in his influential work Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison (1975).

The concept is derived from Jeremy Bentham’s Panopticon, an architectural design for a prison in which a single watchman can observe all inmates without them knowing whether they are being watched or not.

Foucault uses this model metaphorically to explain how modern societies exercise surveillance and discipline.

According to Foucault, Panopticism represents a mechanism of power and social control, where individuals internalize the sense of being constantly watched, thereby regulating their own behavior without the need for direct force or supervision. It serves as a power structure based on visibility and observation, leading to self-discipline and normalization of behavior in modern institutions such as schools, hospitals, prisons, factories, and even entire societies.

Information Booster:

Michel Foucault (1926–1984) was a French philosopher, historian, and social theorist associated with Poststructuralism and Postmodernism. His work critically analyzed the relationship between power, knowledge, and social institutions.

The Birth of the Prison explores the transition from physical punishment to disciplinary mechanisms of control in modern societies. It shows how punishment shifted from bodily torture to psychological control through surveillance.

Concept of Panopticism:

- Based on Bentham’s Panopticon: a circular prison with a central observation tower.
- Represents surveillance society, where the fear of being watched ensures obedience.
- Leads to self-regulation and normalization.
- Applied to broader social mechanisms beyond prisons (e.g., schools, hospitals, offices).

Foucault’s concept has become central to contemporary cultural and literary theory, especially in understanding the interplay between power structures and social behavior.

Additional Knowledge:

Antonio Gramsci – Known for his theory of Cultural Hegemony and Prison Notebooks, he focused on the role of intellectuals and civil society.

Slavoj Žižek – A contemporary Slovenian philosopher and cultural critic, Žižek explores ideology and psychoanalysis, especially through Lacanian and Marxist lenses. 

Roland Barthes – A leading figure in Structuralism and Poststructuralism, Barthes focused on semiotics, textuality, and the death of the author.