First of all, we will be discussing what are
the psychological reasons for the extremism.
Secondary,  I will define and briefly view
some personal dispositions to the violet extremism.
I will end with couple ideas
how we can use the understanding of it.
There are various manifestations of Violent extremism:
religious, national, political, etc.
 
What are the reasons for this?
 
Is an extremist behavior inspired by a certain 'violent ideology'?
In fact, It is common views.
So, we are trying to find ways to deal with
some dangerous ideologies.
Unfortunately, when we cut one ideology,
the another is arising.
 
People can replace ideology from one to another,
People can replace ideology from one to another,
sometimes very dramatically.
And ideologies can change also.
Sometimes ideology is a very strange,
very illogical and controversial mix of ideas.
The ideology of violence is often primitive
and contradictory.
It is surprising how people can follow this.
It is surprising how people can follow this.
And what I mean,
ideology is not a cause,
is not a root of extremist behavior.
In dealing with violent extremism,
we must not put the cart before the horse.
Of course, ideology can justify,
can enhance violent behavior.
But, the main thing that ideology does
it gives some explanations
to an extremist - for what he does violence.
 
Well.
What is the engine of extremism?
Maybe this is  a particular type of human?
Maybe there are some specific personality traits?
Of course, there are some
hypotheses that seem obvious.
But, surprisingly,
we did not find differences between extremists
and others in such features as Aggressiveness,
Neuroticism or Empathy.
In terms
of personal psychology, they are the same
as the ordinary people.
Actually, they are very diversity.
Researchers have discovered high variety of  age,
nationality, income, gender
and education among the extremists.
 
Let's ask what a
And ideologies can change also.
What is the positive things does he get?
What are the benefits of that?
Affiliation, identity,
high self-esteem, implementation of activity,
sensations seeking,
reduction of frustration and so one.
Actually,  the basis
of the extremist behavior are common needs,
common motives that drive all of us.
These needs are natural for humans.
But, it seems, some people just have
a specific, just have a wrong  way
to meet these needs.
 
Social situation
plays an extremely important role here.
 
Family, life experience,
reference group, common language,
storybooks and media suggest
how to realize these needs.
They give an examples and an incentives,
They give an examples and an incentives,
reinforcements for behavior and leads to values
expectations and certain ways how to
understand this world.
This scheme led to the common understanding
This scheme led to the common understanding
of roots of the extremism.
So, there is no special ‘extremist person’
or stable personal traits
that determine the propensity to extremism.
The risk of involvement in the  extremist behavior
is determined by the
simultaneous set of general attitudes or
personal dispositions, each of them is formed
on the basis of the needs and
the social situation.
These personal dispositions are ways
to implementations the needs.
They determine
the specific violent opinions and activities.
And they define the search for
suitable ideology.
Although the personal dispositions are individual
their origin is referred to the culture.
 
The extremist dispositions are invariant
The extremist dispositions are invariant
and they can manifest themselves in a set of particular attitudes.
Actually, one disposition  is not
dangerous yet.   Isolated disposition,
if there are no others, doesn't define
extremist activities.
The synergistic effect is very important here.
We have summarized various
theories and observations and found
11 invariant dispositions to violent extremism.
They can be called the
psychological roots of extremism.
Let me briefly summarize the main points.
Сult of power. This disposition
leads to exaggerated assertion of strength.
It is quite common thinking by categories
dominance-submission,
strong-weak, leader-vassal.
So, power
is understood as a source of status,
authority, honor.
The power is seen as a universal way
to resolve the conflict
The preferred manner
to approval own rightness.
Therefore, strength and power
are the usual arguments in the discussions.
Here, a compromise
is defined as a weakness.
If you have a power - there is no need to listen to opinions of other people.
For this disposition,
identification with a power person is important.
 
Admissibility of aggression
This disposition means justification
and apology of violence, as well as
willingness to commit it.
Often there is a background of real aggressive behavior,
Often there is a background of real aggressive behavior,
but this is not mandatory.
This is typically manifested for lexis,
for jokes, for ideals,
for preferences of films or books
This disposition is stronger in societies where
This disposition is stronger in societies where
the Culture of violence widely spread.
In short, this disposition makes it more likely
to choose aggression as a way
to relieve frustration.
Intolerance. This disposition leads to
rejection to tolerate differences of others.
Typically, it is unwillingness
to respect persons from different social groups
Fore example: race, nationality,
religion, social class
or profession.
It may be inhabitants of another part of city
or fans of another football club.
Actually, it can be people just having
a different style of clothes.
Intolerance is associated with single-valued thinking.
Intolerance is associated with single-valued thinking.
You can see it as a denial
of the possibility of any dissent.
It is unwillingness to respect
opinions or beliefs which contrary
to one's own.
Generally,
it is a desire for separation from people unlike me.
it is a desire for separation from people unlike me.
Conventionalism means Forcing to consensus.
Conventionalism means Forcing to consensus.
It is a tendency  to be on
lookout for people who violate conventional values.
It is a propensity
to point a finger at such people
to condemn, reject and punish them.
There is no apology for those who break down conventional
social norms and values.
It is hardness of demands to themselves
as well as others.
It looks very moral…  But,  this leads
to the priority of piety before humanism.
There is no pity, there is no
indulgence for violators of consensus.
And it leads to always
be look for the enemy.
So, the enemy is needed to protect the values from him.
Actually,
you must find out Bad guys to feel own godliness.
 
Social Pessimism
This means to believe in the danger
and degradation in the world.
It is common vision of the our world as unstable,
unknown, unpredictable and generally wicked.
Very Indicative believes are
the Eschatology, the anticipation
of a future social collapse.
So, a negative look
on the future and the expectation of a social catastrophe
trigger unlocking social
and legal restraints and facilitate
the aggressive impulses.
Mysticism links to External locus of control.
Mysticism links to External locus of control.
This implies attribution own responsibility to
This implies attribution own responsibility to
the external forces that are beyond of nature and society.
the external forces that are beyond of nature and society.
In this way, the disposition match
the belief in mystical determinants
of the individual's fate and
in one's special mission.
It may be a belief in the mystical origin
of one's nation and faith in its special destination.
of one's nation and faith in its special destination.
This is also refer to the spiritual meaning,
ultimate or hidden truths.
They cannot be explicated,
They cannot be explicated,
but are percepted as important for the society.
Well, it is very convenient to justify violence
by such ultimate meaning.
 
Mysticism often leads to exaggerated  attention to symbols having supernatural significance
to symbols having supernatural significance.
For example, ancient signs, books, banners
For example, ancient signs, books, banners.
Astrology, superstition and faith in conspiracy theories are noticeable here.
Astrology, superstition and faith in conspiracy theories are noticeable here.
Destructiveness and cynicism
The disposition contains the generalized
hostility, vilification of the humanity.
This leads to Suspicion and tendency
to explain human behavior by dirty motives.
Typical you can see it as vulgarity and sexism.
Typical you can see it as vulgarity and sexism.
People in general are not worthy of compassion.
It can be said
this is reducing of the value of human life
both opponents and own.
Therefore, the life of others
is easily sacrificed for the "Idea".
is easily sacrificed for the "Idea".
Opponents are perceived as
inferior people, as a "genetic rubbish",
to which pity should not be applied.
Passion for movement
This disposition combines the needs
for search activity, self-realization and autonomy.
for search activity, self-realization and autonomy.
First of all, this is the desire to sensation seeking
and risk seeking.
The important values are adventure
and transformation, alteration,
breaking down barriers, and protest against social norms.
Often it doesn't matter against whom to rebel.
Often it doesn't matter against whom to rebel.
It looks like 'to go hell for leather’,
for catching adrenaline and excitement.
 
Sometimes, this is expressed as dreams
of heroism and
the readiness to sacrifice themselves for the Grate idea.
As you can see in extremist propaganda,
it often promise  the heavy
battle, the risk, even the possibility of death.
People are also attracted by actions, such as processions, noisy gatherings, scuffles, so one.
actions, such as processions, noisy gatherings, scuffles, so one.
 
 
Normative nihilism
Normative nihilism
That means Intention to ignore the laws and the social norms,
which seem unfair. This is the belief
that one can ignore the rules in order to achieve
the one's goals.
It is supported by the tendency
to see the unjust system of society and laws.
to see the unjust system of society and laws.
Usually, this leads to the delineation of the official norms
Usually, this leads to the delineation of the official norms
or norms of majority and the norms of
my social group.
So, person intends to make a choice -
which rules to comply with and which are not.
which rules to comply with and which are not.
Normative nihilism is accompanied by
Normative nihilism is accompanied by
misunderstanding and mistrust
for the legislative process.
The usual manifestations are
demonstrative violation of public norms,
hostility for the police and so one.
 
 
Anti-introspection
Anti-introspection
Anti-introspection
This disposition leads to rejection
of all sort subjective manifestations,
all which based on the human's inner freedom.
This is strong extraversion
refers to contempt of the observation of mental
and emotional processes.
So, here you can see renunciation of imagination and sensitivity.
So, here you can see renunciation of imagination and sensitivity.
This is focus on simple ideas,
direct action, not reflection.
Doubts, mental and emotional struggle
are defined as unhealthy.
 
This can be seen as demonstrative disregard
for humanities, some waves of fiction and art
for humanities, some waves of fiction and art
for example, avant-garde, symbolism, abstractionism, and so one.
for example, avant-garde, symbolism, abstractionism, and so one.
Сonformity
The disposition is based on seeking for
affiliation, to a sense of group cohesion
and toward increasing self-esteem
by referring oneself to a high status social group.
by referring oneself to a high status social group.
Perhaps, a such person has a lack of  internal control,
and it lead to escape from freedom
and personal responsibility.
Being a member of the team is also important for identity.
Being a member of the team is also important for identity.
Conformism relate to gaining  gratification
from group thinking and group unity.
Therefore, it leads to the desire to protect group borders,
look for an enemy to fight it.
 
Susceptibility to group pressure
as well as diffusion of responsibility
lead to willingness to commit an offense
just for ‘have a fun together’.
 
It should be noted
that it is not necessary to be a member of a real contact group
It may be a distant reference group.
It may be a distant reference group.
Finally, I’d like to highlight one key issue.
Finally, I’d like to highlight one key issue.
If we understood the extremism roots, we are able to
If we understood the extremism roots, we are able to
find out where the problems are and realize
what exactly we need to do.
For each disposition, we can determine
what other ways, what other good  ways
are available to meet the needs.
And we can discover
what social situation must be change.
So, applying for concept of
the personal dispositions of extremism would be useful.
 
We can measure the propensity to extremism.
We can predict the violent extremist's behavior.
We can fight extremist’s attitudes.
We can fight extremist’s attitudes.
You can find more details in some papers.
You can find more details in some papers.
 
Thank you very much for your attention!
Thank you very much for your attention!
 
 
 
 
