Fanaticism as a psychological phenomenon - types and signs

The brain of a healthy person is able to process up to 10 thousand thoughts per day. For fanatics, life circumstances and actions are subordinated to one dominant thought, which is why they cannot switch to everyday problems and needs. If they succeed, it is automatically and for a short time. Fanatics live in constant stress.

Fanaticism - what is it?

“Fanaticism” is translated from Latin as “frenzy.” People suffering from this pathology have atrophied doubt - they blindly believe in an idea or a person who excites and impresses them, and deify their ideal. Fanatics differ from ordinary people in their willingness to sacrifice their own and others’ lives, their denial of criticism, social norms and common sense. Such people are not aware of the destructive consequences of their behavior.

Fanaticism is a mental illness that can affect any area. The international classification indicates 7 types of disease, some of them are normally perceived in society:

• political;
• health;
• ideological;
• scientific;
• religious;
• sports;
• cultural.

Levels of fanaticism

There are 2 levels of fanaticism:

• Moderate. With this level of fanaticism, people are adherents of a certain idea, they can impose it, however, they are not inclined to use violence in the name of their idea;
• Heavy. Adherents of an idea make active efforts to convince people with opposing opinions of it and to lure them away. To achieve their goal, they are ready to use various means, including physical and psychological violence.

There is also socially acceptable and unacceptable fanaticism. The first type includes youth subcultures, football fans. Society treats such movements with caution, but loyally. The second type includes religious sects and terrorists.

Signs of fanaticism

Fanaticism has two degrees - moderate and extreme. The middle degree is common and manifests itself in the fact that a person is subject to a dominant idea, but does not take it to the point of absurdity and does not impose it on others. The extreme degree of mental disorder is diagnosed less frequently and is expressed in the rigid imposition of one’s choice on other people, tyranny towards them, including torture and other types of physical violence. Symptoms of the disease manifest themselves in the following deviations from the norm:

1. The fanatic takes events concerning his idol to heart. He suffers, becomes depressed, even to the point of committing suicide because of his idol’s marriage and the loss of his favorite football club.
2. A person accompanies the object of worship on tour, is on duty at the house, and buys accessories and attributes associated with it.
3. Fanatical people constantly talk about “idee fixes” - they are not interested in other topics.
4. Interests and hobbies that used to be a joy fade into the background.
5. A fanatic reacts aggressively to any attacks from others regarding the object or subject of his worship.

Disadvantages of fanaticism and its negative impact

Fanaticism is a destructive tendency towards something. It prevents the individual from feeling freedom, developing, and self-realization in life. And that's not the whole problem. Another danger of fanaticism is the fanatical person's lack of ability to agree with another point of view. As a result, rejection of opposing ideas can become a reason for war, violence, and infringement of rights.

Fanatics do not have a stable psychological state. These are asocial and aggressive people who pose a danger to themselves and society, and do not take into account existing norms and rules. The appearance of fanatics and their behavior only frightens the people around them. To describe a fanatic, the following phrase is enough: “he is crazy.” Fanatic people are characterized by loud speech, harsh expressions, shouting, an unnatural sparkle in the eyes, and active gestures. The fanatic does not want to see and hear the real world. He has his own reality.

Conflict between a simple and a fanatical person can break out for any reason. For example, visiting a club. A fan is ready to tear another person to pieces for any little thing that is opposed to him. He also has strong positive emotions. A crowd of fanatics can practically tear their idol to pieces.

Fanaticism towards a person

This type of mental disorder differs from others in that a specific person becomes the object of persecution and worship of the fanatic. Often the victim of fanaticism is a popular singer, musician, actor or other famous person. The main danger of this state is its stability - the closer the idol, the more dangerous the behavior of his fans. The modern stage knows hundreds of cases when fans in ecstasy tore the clothes of celebrities, broke into their homes, and chased them on tour.

Fanaticism can manifest itself towards a person of the opposite sex. This form of disorder is often confused with love. A woman’s love for a man implies a sober assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of her partner, while fanatical infatuation idealizes and deifies him, worships him, does not notice his shortcomings, and justifies any words and actions of his deity.

Reasons for the emergence of fanaticism

There are a fairly large number of reasons that give rise to personal fanaticism. For example, it can become a consequence of family upbringing, or it can develop gradually, for example, when one person receives unlimited power. There are psychological reasons for the emergence of fanaticism. As a rule, people who usually become fanatics are:

— experiencing difficulties in identifying their own personality, self-realization in life;

- those who do not trust the world around them or themselves;

- without education, who believe in prejudices, experience fear;

- easily suggestible, without their own worldview, life values, principles;

- schizoid, hysterical personality type.

- lacking confidence;

- those in need of control, accustomed to subordination;

The tendency towards fanaticism appears in childhood. She is affected by the destructive style of upbringing in the family. Authoritarianism, demandingness, child manipulation, isolation, deprivation, violent acts, and lack of love and care have a similar effect. A prerequisite for the formation of fanaticism is a feeling of uselessness, insolvency, and powerlessness.

Most often, a person’s fanaticism is the result of certain manipulations. Their victims are usually people who cannot decide on goals in their lives, are too trusting, and naive. Fanatics are born in a crowd that has a leader. Mass fanaticism is considered very destructive and carries great danger. It is much worse than individual. People in crowds can destroy shops, various buildings, and set cities on fire.

Sports fanaticism

A sports fanatic is a person who is generally accepted by society. An army of football fans comes to other cities and countries to support their favorite team. Matches end peacefully or with fights started by fans. In modern society, such behavior is considered a fan movement, a subculture, or part of a sports game. You can distinguish a fan from an ordinary fan by the following characteristics:

1. Abuse of beer and other alcoholic drinks.
2. Taking doping (soft drugs, pills, energy drinks).
3. Permissiveness in words and actions during competitions and after their completion.

How to deal with manifestations of fanaticism in a loved one

Fanaticism... What is this? What to do if someone close to you is among the fanatics? Any manifestations of extreme intolerance and blind worship, be it selfless love for a star, or an aggressive desire to share one’s faith with other people at any cost are signs of an unhealthy psyche.

According to many researchers, fanaticism is a disease. Relatives and friends of such a person should approach solving such problems with all seriousness. And if it is no longer possible to correct mistakes made many years ago, then support, understanding, eliminating the causes of fears and worries, timely contact with psychologists, encouragement for self-development and strengthening the psyche will help overcome this phenomenon.

Religious fanaticism

Religious fanatics elevate their religion to a cult, denying the existence of other faiths. They and their like-minded people are driven by the desire to rule over people of other faiths. The group values ​​of fanatics are elevated to a cult of worship - they blindly believe in the religious leader, obey him unquestioningly and are ready to give their lives if necessary.

Muslim and Orthodox fanaticism are equally dangerous with extremist aspirations. New members of the sect are “brainwashed” in 2-3 weeks, and after 4-5 years of living according to the rules of the religious community, the changes become irreversible. Any cult shares the same characteristics:

1. They have a leader who calls himself the messiah.
2. They are ruled by a totalitarian system and philosophy.
3. Cult members unquestioningly obey the rules of the community.
4. Fanatics unquestioningly give property and money for the benefit of the community.

National fanaticism

National fanaticism is no less terrible, destructive and ruthless. This zealous worship of the exclusive superiority of this or that nation or race has dotted world history with many examples of bloody confrontations. One of the most striking manifestations of national fanaticism was Alfred Ploetz's idea of ​​dividing all people into superior and inferior races, which subsequently marked the beginning of the Second World War.

Another example is the Ku Klux Klan, an organization that consisted of a huge number of people who hated and deeply despised blacks.

The brutality of the KKK members led to an unimaginable number of victims who died from the sophisticated cruelty of the fanatics. Echoes of the activities of this organization are periodically heard today.

How do you become fanatics?

The psychology of fanaticism identifies 3 reasons that push a person to change.

1. Envy of other people's successes.
2. Low self-esteem.
3. A famous person who has achieved everything and shines.

The psychology of religious fanaticism is based on the hopelessness of a person when he finds himself in a difficult life situation and sees no way out of it. At such moments, he goes into religion and, unbeknownst to himself, falls under the influence of the adherents of the sect. They instill in him knowledge of the “right path”, sympathize, express their readiness to support and talk about problems that they themselves have recently encountered. Fanatics flee from reality into religion not out of love for God, but from their own suffering and the indifference of others.

Forms of fanaticism

Ideas of sexism or feminism and political parties can turn into fanaticism. In general, fanaticism can arise in any area where there is the right of personal choice and belief: tastes, group membership, theoretical concepts, music, and more. But freedom in conditions of fanaticism looks conditional. The fanatic is not free, he is dependent and sick.

More often the phenomenon of fanaticism is discussed within the framework of religion. Believers do not join sects, do not kill themselves for the sake of enlightenment, and do not give all their earnings (not just their own) to the religious treasury. This is what fanatics do. Terrorism is also a variant of a fanatical attitude towards faith.

Based on the degree of danger, we can distinguish two forms of fanaticism:

• Average. Adherents of the idea deny alternatives and defend their point of view. Fanatics of the average type mainly communicate with their own kind and, if necessary, defend their faith.
• Severe form. Fanatics try to convince adherents of other opinions or win over neutral people to their side. To convince them, they use harsh methods: torture, beatings, threats, punishment.

In addition to the above forms, we note:

• Socially acceptable fanaticism, for example, football (it is treated with caution, but more or less loyal), subcultural (teenage thematic associations based on interests: music or philosophy, clothing style).
• Socially condemned fanaticism (sects, terrorism).

It is worth noting that any form of fanaticism is potentially dangerous. Football fanatics often continue their path in the criminal direction. Teenagers can kill for wearing the “wrong” clothes (reports about this are not so uncommon, for example, the sensational “explain about your clothes”).

How to get rid of fanaticism?

Fanaticism as a psychological phenomenon appeared in the 17th century, when the Catholic Bishop Bossuet introduced this concept into use. Successful recovery from the disease is possible if:

1. The fanatic will realize that his claims are false.
2. Learn to analyze obsessive thoughts and look at the situation from the other side.
3. Will switch to other events.
4. Increase self-esteem.
5. Seek help from a psychologist.

Fanaticism... What is this?

However, not every manifestation of excessive interest in something can characterize a person as a fanatic. And vice versa.

Fanaticism is an excessive passion for any idea or personality, expressed in devoting a significant part of one’s life and its spiritual content to the object of worship, as well as in uncompromisingly defending one’s own view and imposing it on other people, often in an aggressive form. This phenomenon can be related to anything - morality, a famous person, a political trend, etc. However, religious fanaticism acts as its most dangerous form.

Films about fanatics

Fanaticism in love, religion, sports and any social sphere is a sign of emotional instability, impressionability, lack of leadership qualities, and suggestibility. Dozens of films have been made about fanatics - they talk about the consequences of blind faith and following idols, religious servility.

1. “The Fan”
   with Robert De Niro is a drama about the complex relationship between a professional athlete and his fan.
2. “The Master”
   tells the story of a sailor who got a job in a photo studio after the war. After a while, the former military man falls under the influence of a religious leader and begins to preach his precepts.
3. "Die, John Tucker!"
   The plot of the film tells about a high school macho man, against whom his three ex-girlfriends want to take revenge. They are not stopped by the fact that the bait in the insidious plan is a girl who has just arrived in the city.