Final answer:
Individuals in prison are dehumanized through the loss of privacy, rights, and personal identity, as well as the forced adoption of a uniform prison identity. These processes are often harsher for nonwhite individuals, and ethical considerations arise with the elderly prison population. The Stanford prison experiment underscores the potential for rapid dehumanization within institutional environments.
Step-by-step explanation:
In prison, an individual is further dehumanized through various processes that strip them of their personal identity. A tactic known as the degradation ceremony can be particularly harsh in prisons, where new prisoners have their freedom, rights, and personal belongings taken away. This lack of privacy and uniformity in attire forces them to give up any markers of their former identity for the purpose of resocialization into their new role. The case of Angela Davis highlights these issues, showing how systemic inequalities in the justice system can lead to harsher treatment of nonwhite individuals.
Elderly prison population growth also raises ethical questions about the continued incarceration of those who are less likely to reoffend due to age-related physical and mental decline. Furthermore, historical examples such as the Stanford prison experiment demonstrate how quickly an institutional environment can lead to the mistreatment and dehumanization of individuals within the system. The experiment showcased the psychological effects of assumed roles of power and subservience, highlighting the ease with which humane treatment can deteriorate in a prison setting.