Xenophobia – what is it and how to treat it?

About intolerance

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Intolerance – in the sense of categoricalness. There is a lot of intolerance in our society. And that's a fact. In Efremova’s explanatory dictionary, intolerance is defined as “The inability or unwillingness to tolerate someone or something.” And you know what, I like this definition. It is extremely accurate. This is precisely inability and this is precisely reluctance. Now, let's make an attempt to put everything in its place.

Firstly, let's not argue about borderline topics like hooligans breaking windows, not to mention more serious crimes - they are regulated by relevant legislation.

Secondly, we will talk about what falls under the concept of ethical, social regulation. That is, what the legislation mercifully leaves to the citizens themselves for self-regulation.

What don't we tolerate?

By this, in particular, we mean events such as:

• Children talking loudly (screaming) and playing in public places
• Dogs pooping and peeing anywhere
• Smokers as a class
• Peculiarly dressed
• Visitors
• Minorities
• And so on - the list, in general, can be endless.

How does intolerance arise?

To begin with, initial intolerance is not social. That is, such a concept cannot exist in society, just as in relation to any other. Society cannot say or think anything. In this regard, society is absolutely impotent. But in this society there are people who have their own opinions on a number of issues. This, by the way, is one of the key concepts. Primary – the opinion of a specific person, or a small group of people who think identically on some issues.

And then everything happens according to a very simple scheme, worked out not just for years, but for centuries. These people begin to promote their opinions and, depending on how widely these opinions find a response, they begin to form some kind of legislative or ethical space. The key point here is that it is only their opinion. Moreover, this opinion is not necessarily related to reality; it is not necessarily right or wrong. It’s just the opinion of some people who want to promote it and force everyone else to follow it.

Look at politicians - when they don't talk about the common good, they take away a child's last toy. This is flexibility.

The most interesting thing begins next - private opinion becomes public. And they can spin it any way they want - after all, society is kind of like power.

Lack of opinion

An opinion would not become public if other people did not join it. Some of these people think in a similar way, but the majority, as a rule, do not have their own opinion. Not having an opinion on any issue is normal. For example, due to lack of information, a person is not yet ready to formulate it. But when a person does not have his own opinion and does not want/cannot formulate it, but at the same time grabs onto someone else’s - this is also natural, but sad.

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So, one of the prerequisites for intolerance is fueled public intolerance, based on the inability or unwillingness of most people to form their own opinions. Moreover, for most of the questions that arise before a person.

Lack of your own opinion, lack of your own position means looking for answers to all questions outside. Imagine a vessel. For example, a kettle. This is a man. And the kettle (man) must be filled. If a person forms his opinions, then he pours water into the kettle - this is natural. And if the kettle is empty, then you can pour whatever you want into it. Imagine. what comes out of it later is exactly what was poured into it.

In the absence of our own meanings, others acquire value. Without them, it turns out that our people cannot exist. By the way, it would be correct to call them pseudo-values. It turns out that the essence of a person in such a situation is formed from external sources. Naturally, a person will defend these pseudo-values ​​with all his might. Simply because in this way he protects his essence. Thus, if you pay attention, the most ardent defenders of all rules, foundations and norms, as a rule, are people who live by the rules. This can be confirmed by the fact that something irritates a very specific person. After all, the very fact of violating some rules cannot irritate. This means that they are hurting him. So what happens next? And then, for personal satisfaction, a person uses some kind of global justice, often asserting something like “this is possible, but this is not possible.” It seems to me that this is exactly what it is - a mixture of external attitudes with personality.

The right questions

For example:

• Who told you that this is right? Please show me your finger. And there is no need to point your finger at public opinion, it is not here.
• Do you always follow the rules? (No one ever follows all the rules. If anyone says otherwise, they are either lying or seriously ill).
• If there is a law that everyone must throw themselves off the bridge, will you run to the forefront to implement it?

What are the feelings inside?

Which feelings would more accurately describe intolerance?

There is definitely anger there, and sometimes very strong. But this is just understandable. After all, they are attacking the sacred - the social foundations that are part of man. Envy is often present - after all, the opponent allows himself something that a person could never afford.

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In general, regarding envy, I really want to use the quote from Benedict Spinoza: “No one is so prone to envy as self-abased people.” I think he's right. And precisely in the fact that they are not humiliated, but self-humiliated. In general, I would like to say that it is difficult to humiliate a person. But to feel humiliated is in our complete power. And feeling and being in a given situation seem quite equivalent.

Intolerance is always stubbornness. This is inflexibility. Look at politicians - when they don't talk about the common good, they take away a child's last toy. This is flexibility. Although, of course, it is difficult to consider them role models.

Intolerant people behave like children with their categorical demands that their wishes be instantly and inevitably fulfilled. I believe that there is a rational grain in this. It is possible that someone hid from them in childhood that not all our wishes come true.

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Andrey Petrakov

This is a blog on psychology from a professional psychologist, in which significant attention is paid to the topics of psychological violence - abuse, narcissism, relationships, personal crises, taking responsibility for one's life, increasing self-esteem, existential problems. The cost of consulting a psychologist is 3000 rubles/hour, in person (Moscow, Maryina Roshcha metro station), or via Zoom About us/Make an appointment

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What it is?

Xenophobia – what is it? Many people have only a superficial understanding of the specifics of this term. In medicine, this concept is interpreted as an extreme form of intolerance towards everything unknown, alien, and incomprehensible. Unfortunately, aversion to the new is embedded in many modern ideologies, religions, and moral teachings, so almost all people on the planet are infected to one degree or another with this disease, sometimes without even suspecting the meaning of the word xenophobia.

Varieties

Scientists are still arguing about the term “xenophobia”, what it means, what forms and symptoms of this condition. Usually the following types of the described concept are distinguished:

• racial – intolerance towards other races;
• religious – intolerance towards representatives of other religions or worldviews;
• territorial – intolerance towards persons living in another place.

There are a number of other varieties of the disease, however, they are less common compared to the listed analogues. For example, a person often develops hostility towards people with a different social status, level of income, or intellectual development. All this is xenophobia, synonyms of which today number at least several dozen concepts.

Features of the disease: symptoms and stages

The initial stage of the disease is the perception of strangers as enemies who can cause harm. At this stage, attacks of fear, panic, and a desire to retire to a quiet place are diagnosed, however, as the disease progresses, the person develops aggression, which often turns into illegal actions. Since xenophobia is the fear of something, its main symptoms are:

• inability to ask strangers for help;
• feeling of discomfort in the presence of prying eyes;
• difficulty thinking;
• inappropriate behavior.

Unfortunately, for a person suffering from xenophobia, there is no concept of tolerance, as a result of which he becomes irritable, uncommunicative, and withdrawn. Some manage to hide this phobia for years, and those around them may not be aware of the progressive disease, but sooner or later the disease will manifest itself, and this can lead to serious consequences.

Diagnosis and treatment

Destructive fear, depression, stress, apathy, reluctance to show vital activity - all these conditions are caused by xenophobia, and only a qualified specialist knows for sure how to treat the disease. However, even he will be powerless if the patient himself does not want to eradicate the disease. It is important to start solving the problem in a timely manner, because in advanced stages it is difficult to overcome the defensive reaction and habits that have been developed over a long time.

The main method on the path to recovery is psychotherapy, usually carried out in the form of:

• conversations;
• trainings;
• immersion in a stressful situation, etc.

In some cases, therapy through hypnosis is quite effective, allowing you to find out what made a person afraid or show aggression towards strangers (or other views). If necessary, these types of therapy can be combined with medications, such as antidepressants or sedatives. Xenophobia is synonymous with fear, so the main task will be to overcome it, after which the patient will be able to enjoy a full life again.

Recently, the problem of moral education of the younger generation has become urgent in society. Many children are initially taught the wrong values ​​by their peers. Only an experienced doctor can answer how to treat xenophobia in adolescents; however, therapy should be carried out comprehensively, that is, take into account all factors affecting the individual. Only after excluding external negative influences (for example, the influence of friends, extremist information from the Internet, etc.) is final recovery achieved. Often a child ends up in a sect, as a result of which his religious xenophobia rapidly progresses. This dangerous type of disease must be treated only under the close supervision of a specialist who will find the right approach to the patient and eliminate the consequences of brainwashing.

Xenophobia and racism

Many people confuse the concepts of xenophobia and racism. What is the fundamental difference between the terms presented? What are the most effective treatment options for racism?

Racism is just one type of xenophobia, which is based on a person’s belonging to a certain race. For example, in the United States, this type of disease is very common, since historically, “white” people considered themselves a more privileged class than people with dark skin color. Racism therapy involves a whole range of psychological training aimed at suppressing hostility towards people of a different race.

Self-medication

Only strong individuals who are ready to overcome a huge number of difficulties on the path to recovery can independently eradicate manifestations of xenophobia. The main condition for successful therapy is awareness of the harmfulness of the disease and continuous work on oneself. The patient can simulate various situations that involve communication with the object of irritation, and this can happen both virtually and in real life. It would not be a bad idea to seek help from loved ones, share the problem with them, and listen to their advice. When you cannot cope with the disease on your own, be sure to consult a specialist.

How does it arise? Reasons for appearance

Xenophobia, the causes of which lie in human nature itself, is often associated with aggression towards related species. Although the entire population of the planet belongs to Homo sapiens, however, differences in culture, skin color, complexion and worldview make us different. Historically, the emergence of strangers (or new ideas) is associated with social upheavals (conflicts, wars, the need to confront challenges), as a result of which the body’s defensive reaction is triggered, and the psyche at a subconscious level rejects the incomprehensible. As a consequence, the initial stage of xenophobia arises.

The human desire to divide the world around us into “theirs” and “ours” is ineradicable, and some odious individuals used this for their own purposes (Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, etc.). Knowing what xenophobia is, the definition of which is quite clear to each of us, it is important to understand the harmfulness of this condition, because in its extreme form the disease quickly progresses, suppressing sober thinking, the ability to correctly analyze the situation, and resist immoral calls or desires.

Xenophobia and nationalism

In modern society there are two concepts - nationalism and patriotism, which are often used in a similar context. How to determine what is a healthy psychological state and what is pathology?

Nationalism is a type of xenophobia that involves the deliberately false elevation of one nation over another (or all nations in the world). If patriotism is based on love for the homeland, respect for its history, culture, traditions, then with nationalism the message is that the subject, as a representative of the nation, is better and more worthy than other people. When nationalism becomes widespread, it often ends in armed conflicts.

Interesting Facts

Xenophobia is one of the most common definitions in sociology and medicine. According to statistics, almost every person in the world is a xenophobe to one degree or another. A xenophobe is characterized by a perception of the world in a system of two poles, which consists in such contradictory concepts as “good - evil”, “black - white”, “reality - illusion”, etc. Before Hitler came to power in Germany, the number of respondents with authoritarian character traits characterized by xenophobia did not exceed 7-10%, and on the eve of World War II this number reached 70%.