There are many different methods for priming a human to have the mind state of an inmate. Control units—super max prisons—attempt to brainwash and mentally debilitate prisoners through systematic programs of oppression such as isolation, psychological torture, medical neglect, and other sinister forms of behavior modification. In fact, many of the current solitary confinement tactics developed from brainwashing techniques used during the Korean War (Prison, Prison Reform 4). There are also reports which confirm that brainwashing and torture tactics employed by both the CIA and KGB have been adopted for use in America’s prisons (Hawk 7).

Many compelling experiments have been conducted documenting the effects of this terrible institution eroding the sympathetic human core of not only prisoners but also of their guards. One of the most widely cited and impacting studies was conducted by the respected Dr. Philip G. Zimbardo. In the summer of 1971 at Stanford University, Dr. Zimbardo planned a two-week investigation into the psychology of prison life by selecting a sample of twenty-four male college students who wanted to earn fifteen dollars a day by participating (Zimbardo 2). A simulated prison was set up and the effects on the behavior of all were carefully noted. The study of prison life began with an average group of healthy, intelligent, middle-class males who were arbitrarily divided into two groups by a flip of the coin. Half were randomly assigned to be guards, the other to be prisoners (Zimbardo 3). The study had to be ended prematurely after only six days because of what the situation was doing to the college students who participated. In only a few days, the guards became sadistic and the prisoners became depressed and showed “signs of extreme stress” (Zimbardo 5). Furthermore, it was discovered through videotapes that the guards were escalating their abuse of prisoners in the middle of the night when they thought no researchers were watching and the experiment was "off." Their boredom had driven them to “ever more pornographic and degrading” abuse of the prisoners (Zimbardo 6).

In a nutshell, the prison cycle contains many factors, some obvious and others more hidden. The media needs higher ratings to sell more advertising so they run more sensational crime shows that scare the public. The prison industry needs more people imprisoned to boost profits so they lobby for more prison construction. Various companies contract out prison labor at exploitative wages, a financial bargain. Politicians need to create jobs for construction workers and prison guards and they need to be seen as tough on crime. They pass tougher crime laws and kill four birds with one stone: more low-skill jobs are created in the prison industry; large corporations make millions off prison labor; campaign contributors are repaid; and the tough-on-crime image plays well with voters having the false frenzied fear hyped by the media. Prisons are not just about punishment, but profit.

Some topics in this essay:
Prison Activist, CITEME Proponents, CITME Monetary, Dr Zimbardo, Prison Reform, Taylor United, System Protesting, African-Americans CITME, CIA KGB, Friedrich Nietzsche’s, prison activist, prison labor, prison prison, prison prison reform, prison reform, prison industry, violent subculture, mandatory minimum, activist 12, criminal justice, prison activist 12, criminal justice system, created prison industry, companies contract, prison reform 7,