There are those that argue, eg Michel Foucaul, Nikolas Rose, et all, that it's indicative of a societal shift away from non-democratic rule and arbitary punishment towards democracy and the installation of sytems (specifically the psy-disciplines) which instead of attempting to change behaviour through the use of physical force, instead attempt to discipline the subject into self-regulating his/her own behaviour so that the those in power can do "less of the rowing, and more of the steering".

Or something. Another beer, anyone?