Fanaticism as a Destructive Form of Faith

The psychological analysis of fanaticism is presented in the article. The fanaticism is considered as a destructive form of faith, such as superstition and prejudice. The differences between the fanaticism and superstition, as well as fanaticism and prejudice, are shown. The psychological preconditions of personality development, which can evoke the formation of fanaticism, are described. The link between the level of psychological health of personality and possibilities of the emerging of fanaticism are outlined.

Keywords: psychology of faith, psychology of religion, fanaticism, superstitions, prejudices, development of personality, psychological health

Column: Psychology of faith

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/cpp.2014220504

For Reference

Inina N.V. Fanaticism as a Destructive Form of Faith. Konsul'tativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya = Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy, 2014. Vol. 22, no. 5, pp. 89–102. doi:10.17759/cpp.2014220504. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

Asmolov A.G. Psikhologiya obyknovennogo fanatizma // Mezhkulturnyi dialog: Issledovaniya i praktika / Pod red. G.U. Soldatovoi, T.Y. Prokofyevoi, T.A. Lyutoi. М.: SMI MGU im. M.V. Lomonosova, 2004. S. 6—14.
Berdyaev N.А. О fanatizme, ortodoksii i istine. Russkie zapiski // Chelovek. 1997. № 3. S. 67—75.
Bratus B.S. Anomalii lichnosti. M.: Mysl', 1988. Bratus B.S., Inina N.V. Vera kak obschepsikhologicheskiy fenomen soznaniya cheloveka // Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seriya 14, Psikhologiya. 2011. № 1. S. 25—39.
Volter. Poyemy. Filosofskie povesti. Pamflety. M.: Izd-vo politicheskoy literatury Ukrainy. 1989.
Olport G. Religiya i predrassudki // Stanovlenie lichnosti. M.: Smysl, 2002. S. 130—138.
Fromm E. Chelovek dlya sebya. Minsk: Kollegium, 1992.
Chistyakov G.P. Psikhologiya religioznogo fanatizma // Mezhkulturnyi dialog: Issledovaniya i praktika / pod red. G.U. Soldatovoi, T.Y. Prokofyevoi, Т.А. Lyu-toi. М.: Tsentr SMI MGU im. М.V. Lomonosova, 2004. S. 22—31.
Erikson E. Detstvo i obschestvo. SPb.: Letniy Sad, 2000.

PlumX