Disciplinary Power (Michel Foucault)

Disciplinary power, as conceptualized by Michel Foucault, refers to a form of social control that subtly regulates individuals’ behavior through institutions like schools, prisons, and workplaces. Instead of relying on overt violence or laws, it uses surveillance, routines, and normalization to shape what is considered proper or acceptable. Individuals internalize these expectations, often self-regulating without direct supervision. This power operates through practices that produce “docile bodies,” capable of constant self-monitoring, thereby maintaining order and conformity within society.