The topic of xenophobia is relevant, tragic and dramatic at the same time. It affects individuals and the whole society. Sometimes we do not even understand that we hurt a person whom we consider to be a stranger. Sometimes we understand, but we continue to act aggressively. Where does the hostility to someone else, incomprehensible? What fears provoke rejection of someone else? How to cultivate tolerance? We tell what xenophobia is, its types and ways to develop tolerance.
What is xenophobia
Xenophobia is a complex complex of negative emotional manifestations in relation to something or someone else's, unknown. At the heart of the phobia is a feeling of hostility, fear and contempt for the representatives of other nations, cultures, religion, social status. Sometimes emotional hostility goes into open aggression, the intention to physically destroy or expel aliens, dissidents. Accordingly, xenophobes are people who hate foreigners.
The term "xenophobia" consists of two Greek words "xenos"- stranger and"phobos"- fear. In translation:"fear of strangers"Xenophobia refers to social phobias that are characterized by persistent, exaggerated fears or fear. Depending on the subject to which the hatred is directed, is manifested by Islamophobia, Christianophobia, Russophobia, migrant-phobia, homophobia, ageism, sexism.
The reasons for xenophobia, researchers consider several factors: genetic predisposition, education, cultural and social environment. A phobia rarely gives a logical explanation and can be aggravated after some significant event or shock. The main psychological "trigger" of xenophobia, researchers consider the human desire to divide the world into "black" and "white", "their" and "alien". When a person identifies himself as one group, he sees the main threat in all strangers.
History of xenophobia
Dislike of strangers originated from the first steps of mankind. Reliable historical data on wars of primitive people yet. But more than a third of the found skeletons of the Cromagnon perioda (our direct ancestors who lived 30-40 thousand years ago) found with traces of violent death. And the first rock paintings depicted not only animals, but also men shooting at each other. Later there were crusades, religious wars, pogroms, persecution motivated by anti-Semitism.
Scientists suggest that over the course of history, 90-95% of communities participated in hostilities. Indians of America, hunters of tropical forests, steppe nomads and Scandinavian warriors spent free time on the enslavement and destruction of neighboring peoples. And often the cause of the collision was suspicion and dislike for everything else. Violent wars in history have been avoided only by Bushmen living in the desert and residents of the Far North.
Despite the promotion of tolerance, society is becoming increasingly intolerant of migrants, members of other races, sexual minorities. Therefore, in most civilized states, laws on "hate crimes" have been introduced. This term first appeared in the United States in 1985 after the publication of articles on violence against gays and lesbians. In the 90s of the last century, the first legislative acts were adopted.
Hate crimes - This is an offense motivated by intolerance of certain groups of people. Moreover, the responsibility awaits the violator not only for physical violence or damage to property. In most cases, the punishment is for verbal abuse in order to humiliate the other person. No one can forbid a person to experience hatred. But for a public demonstration of hatred towards members of another race, religion, ethnicity, language, gender identity or sexual orientation, the offender will face severe punishment.
Types of xenophobia
First of all, it is necessary to distinguish between xenophobia instinctive and ideological. At the base instinctive hostility lies the same mechanisms that protect our body from viruses and bacteria. So this is an evolutionary defense mechanism. But ideological hate is a political idea that arose as a result of wars, genocide, and people's suffering.
There are interpersonal, intergroup and interracial xenophobia. Personal hatred of everything else is formed under the influence of the inner circle and upbringing. Intergroup hostility is most often associated with competition in small groups, communities (educational institutions, commercial organizations). Interracial Xenophobia is provoked by political ideology, social, political or economic processes. The deterioration of interethnic situation often occurs during periods of economic recession.
In the sense of xenophobia, the world is inhabited by hostile nations, so it lives in constant anticipation of a threat. The most popular are three types of fears:
- Loss of material well-being after the seizure of alien territory.
- Destruction of established values: moral, cultural, beliefs.
- The negative effects of constant hostility.
Fear of others manifests itself from the first years of life. For example, many have noticed that little kids are hiding or starting to cry at the sight of strangers. So they express their unwillingness to communicate with a stranger. Recognizing that the tendencies to reject someone else's are inborn in us, it is important to learn how to control them. Nobody canceled genetics, of course, but it is also possible to re-educate yourself.
Xenophobia as the reverse side of tolerance
Many of us try not to judge a person by appearance. But sometimes it is difficult to resist discontent at the sight of an untidy bum or pierced teenager. But if people could read each other's thoughts, it would be even worse. Even a tolerant person has a desire to hit a noisy neighbor or change in transport from a brightly dressed transsexual.
Psychologists believe that such desires are included due to our "psychological immunity", which was formed at the dawn of mankind. When any strangers were enemies, tolerance was out of the question. In addition, protective mechanisms help us to protect against all sorts of diseases. As soon as we notice a runny nose or cough in another person, we immediately try to get away. It turns out that being wary of strangers is a part of our instinct for self-preservation.
But psychological immunity does not justify offensive statements or actions against unpleasant people. Therefore, today so much attention is paid to the education of tolerance in children and adolescents. But what do adults who do not get to the lessons of tolerance? Psychologists say: beliefs can be changed at any age. After all, our brain is set to empathy in the same way as mistrust.
Psychologist's advice on how to develop empathy:
- Listen up You can ask the person what he feels like going through a difficult situation. Try to listen to the interlocutor, not interrupting, to look at the situation through his eyes.
- Refrain from your own interpretations. Try not to rush to conclusions or to attribute your feelings to another. It is important for a person to know that they understand him correctly.
- Explore other cultures. Whenever possible, spend time talking to a stranger. Try to talk without hesitation or ask for help from a person from another social circle.
- Analyze your intolerance. Sometimes the rejection of other people is connected with stereotypes that we were rewarded in childhood.
- Raise your self-esteem. In some cases, hostility towards others is a reflection of low self-esteem. Instead of getting bogged down with hate, you should develop self-reliance.
findings
- Xenophobia is a dislike for someone else, incomprehensible.
- Mistrust of strangers lies in our genes.
- Hate crimes are crimes committed because of intolerance towards certain social groups.
- Tolerance can be cultivated in yourself at any age.
