Dear readers!
We present to your attention a new thematic issue of our journal, the theme of the issue is "Psychological and pedagogical prevention and correction of extremism in an educational environment."
The relevance of the problem of psychological and pedagogical prevention and correction of extremism in an educational environment is dictated by statistics on extremist and terrorist crimes involving minors. The importance of this topic is also determined by the Decree of the President of Russia dated December 28, 2024, No. 1124, On Approval of the Strategy for Countering Extremism in the Russian Federation. According to this normative legal document, extremism in all its manifestations leads to the violation of civil peace and harmony, fundamental human and civil rights and freedoms, undermines state and public security, and creates a real threat to the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Russian Federation, as well as to the foundations of its constitutional system, interethnic and interfaith unity, civil unity, cultural development, and political and social stability.
The issue is aimed at a psychological study of the problems of extremist activity and related phenomena in public life. The issue opens with a theoretical and methodological article by Yu.A. Kleiberg, "The marginalization of topos as a determinant of the general well-being of adolescent and youth extremism." Adolescent and youth extremism is an alarming and aggressive component of modern topos. The primary feature of adolescent and youth extremism is the spiritual immaturity of adolescents and youth, the unformed perception of the integrity of their worldview and value orientations, which is provoked by the problem of intergenerational alienation (generational conflict) among modern youth, societal marginalization, and the inability to comprehensively assess the situation. A marginal status is becoming the norm of life for millions of people; marginality is a mechanism and condition for self-identification. The article identifies predictors of a marginal topos that contribute to the emergence of youth extremism. The results of the study showed that the awareness of psychology students about youth extremism has changed their attitude toward this phenomenon. The absolute majority of respondents (90%) condemn extremism and terrorism, as well as young people who commit crimes on this basis. The respondents believe that punishment should be increased (92%), and the same number advocate for a stricter migration policy of the state. Interviews with experts and a survey of psychology students indicate that the increase in the number of extremist teenagers and young people depends on the political activity of the state and society, which has recently been associated with the special military operation (SVO). The study points to the need for regular monitoring of the problems of youth extremism, terrorism, and other destructive manifestations. The article by D.A. Naletova, N.V. Dvoryanchikov, and K.N. Dvoryanchikova, "Possibilities of assessing the risk of radicalization in adolescents and youth within the framework of M. Hogg's theory of uncertainty-identity (empirical verification)" is devoted to studying the possibility of assessing the risk of radicalization in adolescents and youth. The authors identified significant links between the degree of social identity among students and the degree of entitativity of the groups they belong to, as well as of the groups they consider desirable. No relationship was found between the degree of social identity in schoolchildren and the degree of entitativity in undesirable groups, in contrast to students. The results indicate that the degree of social identity affects the perception of cohesion in significant and desirable groups. The absence of a similar relationship for undesirable groups among schoolchildren in comparison with students requires further study, taking into account age and psychological characteristics.
A.V. Litvinova, in her article "Psychological conditions for the manifestation of a tendency to extremism in students" found that the psychological conditions for the manifestation of a tendency to extremism are delinquent, addictive, and situational behaviors, as well as the presence of bad habits in students. Expressions of "destructiveness and cynicism" and "normative nihilism" are significantly associated with delinquent and addictive situational behaviors. Conventional coercion distinguishes students with bad habits. The results of the study expand the understanding of the manifestations of propensity toward extremism among normotypic students. To prevent extremism, it is necessary to develop and implement preventive and psychocorrective programs aimed at addressing situationally manifested forms of destructive behavior and harmful habits among students.
M.D. Polushina's scientific article "Socio-psychological predictors of the formation of a tendency to extremist attitudes among young people" shows that the personality of an extremist is culturally and historically defined. The current content of concepts includes previous, already changed circumstances, reflecting the current situation and manifestations of individual characteristics. The theoretical basis of the research was the theory of interinstitutional conditioning of individual extreme activity. The author examines the current socio-psychological state of youth in the North Caucasus, aiming to compare the features of this state with the factors contributing to the formation of extremist ideas. The study states that the risk of exposure to extremist ideas is higher for those with a lower-than-optimal level of identity; the use of aggression to achieve goals and maladaptive ways of expressing discontent are acceptable, and the outside world appears threatening.
Foreign researcher V. Kaplan, in the material of his scientific article "The relationship between the level of codependency in adolescents and family relationships" demonstrates the vulnerability of adolescence to various kinds of threats. The author shows that the level of codependency among adolescents varies significantly depending on gender, the level of parental education, economic status, and the expected level of relations between family and friends. The level of codependency among female students was higher than that of boys, and as the level of parental education and economic status increased, the rates of codependency decreased. The author found a significantly negative correlation between the overall score on the codependency scale and the score on the family relations scale. The results indicate that family communication and parenting styles play a crucial role in supporting the psychosocial development of adolescents. Studying this problem can more deeply reveal the "etiology and pathogenesis" of extremist activity.
I.O. Kotenev and A.V. Sorokina, in their article "Negative psychological states among consulting psychologists of law enforcement agencies working remotely" showed that working under conditions of high emotional stress and emergency situations leads to significant changes in the psycho-emotional state of employees. Consulting psychologists of law enforcement agencies who work remotely exhibit more pronounced negative psychological states (symptoms of secondary trauma, professional burnout, aggressiveness, anxiety, depression) than their colleagues engaged in other types of activities. These negative psychological conditions adversely affect job satisfaction and can lead to a decrease in work capacity, indicating the need to develop and implement targeted programs for their psychological prevention.
K.O. Galin and V.E. Petrov, in their work "Digital technologies as a safe environment for adolescent socialization" describe how identity and social connections are formed among adolescents in a digital environment, which requires scientific understanding and pedagogical support for the socialization process in the virtual world. This important issue is relevant in the context of studying extremist crimes, as most of these crimes are "digitized." The importance of understanding the mechanisms and consequences of the "technological migration" of adolescents opens up opportunities for correcting the propensity to extremism in education.
The issue concludes with the article by A.-M.I. Avilova, "Using the gestalt completion effect in virtual reality as a method of psychological prevention of suicidal risk in early adolescence". The proposed study is highly relevant, as "suicide statistics" show a negative increasing trend every year, especially among young people. Therefore, there is a need for specialists to develop more effective means of psychological and pedagogical prevention of this phenomenon. The author suggests that after replaying a life-threatening situation and the experience of death in virtual reality, suicidal thoughts and desires will disappear, since a potentially life-threatening situation has been experienced and the gestalt has been completed. The sample consisted of boys and girls with an average age of 19 years. The author used well-founded scientific methods and statistical criteria for the psychological diagnosis of "suicidal tendencies" and for the mathematical verification of the research results. The main conclusion is a statistically significant decrease in depression levels among participants in the formative experiment. The author's technique has demonstrated high effectiveness in reducing suicidal risks.
In conclusion, we note that extremist crimes encompass a large number of offenses, and the degree of their socially dangerous consequences can pose threats to the national security of the state. In this regard, we recognize the importance of continuing such research and invite a wide audience to discuss these issues. Any interested author can share the results of their research on the pages of the journal Extreme Psychology and Personal Security.
Thematic editor:
Dmitry Vladimirovich Deulin, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor,
Dean of the Faculty of Extreme Psychology at MSUPE