Psychobiography and political psychology's influence on individual radicalization

Psychobiography

In the world of international relations, there are numerous ideas and concepts that are used to illustrate a certain kind of political psychology. This is focusing on the relationship of politics and psychology. The basic idea is to create institutions which address various social disparities and more effectively support the needs of the people. As a result, there are a host of theories that are used to support these larger objectives. To fully understand what is occurring requires examining different scholarly sources and how their conclusions can reach these larger benchmarks. Together, these different elements will highlight the influence of political psychology on everyone.

Factors Influencing Political Psychology

There are a number of different factors which are having a direct impact on political psychology (i.e. The underlying amounts of control). This takes place through using a verity of tools to connect with someone on a personal level. The most notable include: emphasizing specific issues, the political ideology of friends / family / mentors and the issues impacting select segments of society.

According to Cottmam (2010), all of these areas will create a situation, where a person aligns with specific ideas. This unites everyone under a common identity, purpose and understanding. This gives them a sense of belonging with them feeling greater amounts of respect and support. Once this occurs, is the point they will begin sustaining the larger needs of group and others within it. This instills a sense of community and it makes the person feel as if they are part of something special. It is at this point, when the individual will become more radicalized in their beliefs. This encourages them to continually demonstrate how they are following these larger social norms.[footnoteRef:2] [2: Martha Cottam, Introduction to Political Psychology. (New York: Psychology Press, 2010), 117 -- 130.]

Berlin (2013) is adding to these insights by demonstrating that control can influence the young and those who are considered to be social outcasts. This serves as an avenue for identifying and connecting with the larger ideas of the group. In many cases, these concepts are focusing on using the pluralism. This is utilizing a series of ethical standards to have a positive impact on a variety of disciplines and within society itself. The biggest challenges are when the different sets of values are coming into conflict with each other. [footnoteRef:3] [3: Isaiah Berlin. Roots of Romanticism. (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2013), 64-73. ]

This is taking place through positive and negative liberty. Positive liberty is when self mastery is occurring. This means that everyone has the ability to decide who will govern society. These concepts are traced back to Aristotle, with his ideas on citizenship and self-determination. He believes that there is a natural order that is derived from making clear distinctions as to what course of actions is best for them. Throughout the process, the individual will think for themselves and question those who do not share their beliefs. In this case, Berlin feels that this is necessary in a free society to shape the polices that are supporting the will of the people. [footnoteRef:4] [4: Isaiah Berlin. Roots of Romanticism. (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2013), 64-73. ]

However, he also determined that positive liberty is an illusion. This is because many philosophers from the 18th century were supporting rational thoughts to meet the needs of society. Yet, over the course of time, disparities occurred based upon: racial, gender, economic or sexual orientation. Once this happens, is the point the majority will receive all of the benefits at their expense. Over the course of time, the promises of self-determination are used to keep everyone in line by sustaining the status quo. [footnoteRef:5] These ideas are used to support various ideologies and political movements such as: nationalism, social engineering, historicism and the collective views about the larger group's destiny. [5: Isaiah Berlin. Roots of Romanticism. (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2013), 64-73. ]

Negative liberty is when the ideas of the group are outweighing those of the individual. These become standards that everyone is expected to follow. In many situations, these practices are directly challenging positive liberty and inviting totalitarian forms of government. Crowder (2004) is arguing that the idea of liberty will shift based upon the values the society supports. In many situations, they will slowly stifle or reduce the underlying amounts of self-determination. A good example of this can be seen with Crowder saying, "Where it is to be drawn is a matter of argument, indeed of haggling. Men are largely interdependent, and no man's activity is so completely private as never to obstruct the lives of others in any way. Freedom for the pike is death for the minnows'; the liberty of some must depend on the restraint of others." [footnoteRef:6] These insights are showing how the needs of the group can trump those of the individual. In this aspect, the concept of freewill exists only in theory. It is also serving as a cautionary tale about what can happen when the needs of larger society are placed above everything else. [6: George Crowder. Isaiah Berlin (Oxford: Polity, 2004.), 15]

Victor (1998) found that these factors will crossover to shift the political psychology. For instance, after the end of World War I, Germany was considered to be a democracy that abandoned its totalitarian regime. On the surface, it appeared as if the war and the provisions from the Treaty of Versailles had fundamentally changed Germany's political psychology.[footnoteRef:7] [7: George Victor. The Pathology of Evil (Dulles: Potomac Books, 1998.), 26-35]

However, underneath the surface, there were feelings of resentment that were used to support civil unrest. In the 1920s and 1930s, Adolph Hitler tapped into these sentiments to show how he was supporting the ideas of positive and negative liberty. On the surface, he stated that he was helping Germany to rightfully claim its place in the word as a military and economic power. [footnoteRef:8] [8: George Victor. The Pathology of Evil (Dulles: Potomac Books, 1998.), 26-35]