Muraschenkova, N. V. Patriotism as a Factor of Extremism Prevention Among Youth: the Social Psychological Approach

Abstract: Extremism and patriotism are not traditional topics for psychology. Therefore, it is noted that social psychological researches still lack the conceptual and notional framework for studying such phenomena as patriotism or extremism, in particular, the psychological potential of patriotism as the factor of youth extremism prevention hasn’t been explored. There is a certain contradiction in science between the recognized importance of patriotism in extremism prevention and the absence of social psychological researches that would reveal the potential of patriotism as the factor of youth extremism prevention. This contradiction has made the author of the article to focus on this theme and purpose of research. The subject under research is patriotism as the factor of preventing extremism among youth. The purpose of the article is to reveal the potential of patriotism as the factor of youth extremism prevention. Methodological grounds of research include principles of the complex, systems, subject-centered activity and person-centered approaches as they are introduced in Russian psychology. Theoretical grounds of research include scientific researches aimed at analyzing the phenomenon of extremist’s way of thinking, types of extremism, reasons and determinants of extremism development as well as social psychological researches of patriotism that study social, ethnic and psychological aspects of manifestation and development of patriotism in a modern Russian society. In the course of research the author has also used such theoretical research methods as analysis, synthesis, comparison and summary. The results of research prove the supposition that struggle against youth extremism and teaching patriotism are the two inseparable problems. Noteworthy that one of the hindrances in formation of patriotic attitudes is the ambivalent interpretation and evaluation of patriotism by young people. The author emphasizes the need for solving the problem of multiple interpretations of the term ‘patriotism’ both in the academic community and common sense. The author shows in order to raise the potential of patriotism as the factor of youth extremism prevention, a traditional definition of patriotism should include the aspect reflecting necessary peculiarities of inter-ethnic and cross-cultural relations, in particular: tolerance and respect towards other nations and cultures, recognition of their right to exist and be different without confrontation. The main result of the theoretical research is the revelation of patriotism as the factor of youth extremism prevention from the point of view of the social psychological approach and description of the main differences in extremist and patriotic attitudes at the personality level. The research also proves that being a basic spiritual and moral personal quality, true patriotism is the factor of preventing extremist attitudes and extremist behavior.

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