“ “ EXTREMISM: The Social Psychology EXTREMISM: The Social Psychology of Ideological Polarization of Ideological Polarization and Commitment” and Commitment” Leslie L. Downing, Ph.D. SUNY - Oneonta, NY Department of Psychology Proposed Presentation for the Susan Sutton Smith Prize for Academic Excellence (2004): SUNY Oneonta
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“EXTREMISM: The Social Psychology of Ideological Polarization and Commitment”
“EXTREMISM: The Social Psychology of Ideological Polarization and Commitment”. Leslie L. Downing, Ph.D. SUNY - Oneonta, NY Department of Psychology Proposed Presentation for the Susan Sutton Smith Prize for Academic Excellence (2004): SUNY Oneonta. BIN LADEN. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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““EXTREMISM: The Social Psychology EXTREMISM: The Social Psychology of Ideological Polarizationof Ideological Polarization
and Commitment” and Commitment”
Leslie L. Downing, Ph.D.SUNY - Oneonta, NY
Department of Psychology
Proposed Presentation for the Susan Sutton Smith Prize for Academic
Excellence (2004): SUNY Oneonta
BIN LADENBIN LADEN
• WE ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH THE EXTREMES TO WHICH COMMITTED FOLLOWERS OF OSAMA BIN LADEN HAVE GONE -
• TO FULFILL HIS VISION OF WAR AGAINST THE INFIDELS.
Radical MuslimsRadical Muslims
Al Queda and Other Radical Muslim Groups not only anticipate a world free of non-Muslim infidelsThey are committed to doing whatever is necessary to make it happen!
ARE SUCH PEOPLE EVIL?
SHOKO ASAHARASHOKO ASAHARA
Aum Shinrikyo in Japan has tried to hurry the end of the world by release of sarin gas in the Tokyo subway.
HIS FOLLOWERS PERSISTED IN OBEYING HIS DIRECTIVES, EVEN WHEN ASKED TO KILL AS MANY TOKYO COMMUTERS AS POSSIBLE.
914 DEAD AT JONESTOWN914 DEAD AT JONESTOWN
FOLLOWERS OF JIM JONES SHARED THE BELIEF THAT HE WAS DIVINELY INSPIRED BY GOD,
DOING HIS BIDDING EVEN WHEN HE ASKED THEM TO MURDER THEIR OWN BABIES, AND KILL THENSELVES.
CHARLES MANSONCHARLES MANSON
Charles Manson was not content to wait for Armageddon. He tried to light the fuse that would bring it about.
FOLLOWERS OF CHARLES MANSON PERSISTED IN ACCEPTING HIS DIVINITY EVEN WHEN HE ASKED THEM TO MURDER INNOCENT PEOPLE FOR HIM.
IDEOLOGICALIDEOLOGICAL EXTREMITYEXTREMITY
• IDEOLOGICAL EXTREMITY?
THE EXTENT TO WHICH IDEOLOGICAL BELIEFS DEVIATE FROM SOME COLLECTIVELY DEFINED NORM.
EXTREME COMMITMENT TO EXTREME COMMITMENT TO BEHAVIORBEHAVIOR
DEFINITION OF COMMITMENT –
“THAT WHICH ALLOWS PERSISTENCE IN A LINE OF ACTION IN SPITE OF GOOD REASONS TO DO OTHERWISE.”
EXTREMISM OF BELIEF AND EXTREMISM OF BELIEF AND COMMITMENTCOMMITMENT
Moderate Beliefs
and
Low
Commitment
Extreme Beliefs and
Low
Commitment
Moderate Beliefs
and
Extreme
Commitment
Extreme Beliefs
and
Extreme
Commitment
The Potentially Deadly The Potentially Deadly CombinationCombination
Extreme Beliefs
and
Extreme Commitment
Acquiring Extreme Ideology: Acquiring Extreme Ideology: Polarization and Conversion Polarization and Conversion
ProcessesProcesses
POLARIZATION: Shift from more moderate or normative beliefs to ones that are more extreme.
IDEOLOGICAL CONVERSION: Coming to accept a new ideology that is incompatible with previously held beliefs.
“We are dust to them!” (Vladimir Putin on Al Queda)
SOCIAL IMPLOSIONSOCIAL IMPLOSION
• WHEN MEMBERS OF COHESIVE GROUPS INTERACT AMONGST THEMSELVES, CONCERNING ISSUES OF ATTITUDE OR BELIEF, WITHOUT THE MODERATING INFLUENCES OF OUTSIDERS, A SHIFT IN THE DIRECTION OF POLARITY OR EXTREMITY IS TO BE EXPECTED.
Ideological ConversionIdeological Conversion
• “Fragile Realities: Conversion and Commitment in Cults and Other Powerful Groups.” (Downing)
• Social Psychology: Belief and Commitment in Groups.
• Six-Component Model of Ideological Conversion.
STAGE 1 OF THE SIX-COMPONENT STAGE 1 OF THE SIX-COMPONENT MODEL OF IDEOLOGICAL CONVERSIONMODEL OF IDEOLOGICAL CONVERSION
• STAGE 1: Impairment of the Ability of the Original Belief System to Adequately Function. – Component 1: Threat to Functioning of the
Original Belief System.– Component 2: Undermining Internal
Resources for Coping with Threat.– Component 3: Undermining External
Resources for Coping with Threat
STAGE 2 OF THE SIX-COMPONENT STAGE 2 OF THE SIX-COMPONENT MODEL OF IDEOLOGICAL CONVERSIONMODEL OF IDEOLOGICAL CONVERSION
• STAGE 2: Provision of Conditions in Which a New Ideology is Made Available and is Perceived to be Functional. – Component 4: Provision of a New Social
Support System.– Component 5: Provision of a New Ideology.– Component 6: Provision of Conditions
Supporting Commitment to and Consolidation of the New Ideology