What is heterochromophilia: is it considered a deviation?

The psychology of xenophobia and how it affects everyone

Xenophobia is the fear of strangers or strangers.
This term is most often applied to people who are afraid of immigrants or people from an unfamiliar, foreign culture. “When dealing with aliens, try to be polite but firm. And always remember that a smile is cheaper than a bullet.”

This is a quote from the Oscar-nominated science fiction film District 9, whose theme centers on interracial or intergroup hatred and conflict. This is a suitable example for the question of xenophobia. The dictionary defines xenophobia as "fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners or anything that is strange or alien", and throughout the world the word "foreigner" has become synonymous with "immigrant" or "foreigner".

Xenophobia is often mentioned in the news, but is what is mentioned in the news really a phobia?

Phobia is a clinical disorder, but whether xenophobia should be classified as a clinical disorder remains a matter of debate. Let's look at the definition of xenophobia in psychiatric and psychological terms.

What is heterochromophilia?i

Heterochromophilia is a fetishism. People with heterochromophilia become aroused by seeing skin colors different from their own. Some of these guys, in order to get off properly, need to thoroughly enjoy the spectacle of the intertwining of two bodies, sharply contrasting with each other.

Heterochromophilia is put on a par with sexual deviations and deviations, that is, paraphilia.

Let us now consider two situations - heterochromophiles by nature and “involuntarily”.

It is important to remember that not every person who decides to have a sexual/romantic relationship with a member of a different race is a heterochromophile. If you, as a white man, are excited exclusively by mulatto or Asian women and you are not interested in their rich inner world, external data, etc. – you have a certain tendency towards heterochromophilia.

If, by coincidence, you fell in love with a person of a different race, and it is not the color of his skin that excites you, but he himself entirely and completely, then heterochromophilia is not observed in your arsenal of psychological cockroaches.

Now let's develop the topic of interracial relations a little.

Is sexual attraction to a person of a different skin color really a deviance?

Is xenophobia a mental disorder?

In psychiatry and psychology, xenophobia is classified as an anxiety disorder, and the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) assigns "phobic" as a diagnosis if two or more of the following criteria are met:

• The person is exposed to excessive, persistent and intense fear or anxiety when in contact with foreigners or strangers.
• The anxiety or fear is out of proportion to any actual danger posed by these people and manifests itself almost immediately when the person is in the presence of the triggering person.
• The affected person goes to extremes to avoid inviting foreigners or strangers or experiencing undue suffering in their presence.
• The phobia is self-limiting, meaning that the anxiety caused by being around strangers or foreigners makes the person unable to function normally.
• The phobia must last for six months or longer to be diagnosed.

All other anxiety disorders must be ruled out before a phobia can be positively diagnosed, as the symptoms of different disorders can often be similar.

As the reader can now guess, xenophobia is considered an extremely rare phobia in clinical settings.

Symptoms of xenophobia

When a person is exposed to a trigger, which in the case of xenophobia could be a stranger or foreigner, he or she will show anxiety and fear in different ways. Physiologically, one or more of the following symptoms may occur:

• Increased heart rate
• Dizziness and trembling
• Shortness of breath or rapid breathing
• Nausea
• Fear of death
• Feeling of unreality or that he/she is "going away"
• Morbid preoccupation with a feared object

Other symptoms more related to anxiety include:

• Headache
• Muscle pain, tension and tightness in the neck and shoulders
• Chest pain
• Sleep disorders
• Ringing or throbbing in the ears
• Excessive sweating
• Very cold or very hot
• Numbness or tingling in some parts of the body

Sometimes these symptoms can develop into a full-blown anxiety attack, which is a serious reaction. Due to the severity of these symptoms, the affected person may isolate themselves and avoid social contact. This can cause serious difficulties in functioning normally and maintaining normal relationships. Interestingly, although women are statistically more likely to suffer from anxiety disorders, xenophobia is considered more common among men.

In extreme and rare cases of xenophobia, a person may become morbidly concerned with strangers or foreigners and may even harm them.

Treatment of phobias

Most phobias are not very serious and can be eliminated by avoiding the triggering object or situation. However, when a phobia becomes debilitating because it interferes with a person's functioning, it must be addressed.

Phobias anywhere on the severity spectrum can be addressed in several ways. These include:

Self help

If the phobia is bothersome, but not as severe, a person can consider self-help techniques to counter the fear associated with the phobia. This includes relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, yoga, nature walks and visualization techniques. Support groups can also be helpful in curbing the anxiety that a phobia can cause.

Practicing mindfulness techniques has also proven effective in helping combat phobias. This may be due to its usefulness in assessing thought processes that may play an important role in xenophobia. Professor M. Williams, former director of the Oxford Center for Mindfulness, UK, says: “Mindfulness... makes us more aware of the flow of thoughts and feelings we experience, and seeing how we can get caught up in that flow doesn't help. This allows us to step away from our thoughts and begin to see their patterns. Gradually, we can learn to notice when our thoughts take over and realize that thoughts are simply “mental events” that do not have to control us.”

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT with a qualified therapist focuses on helping people change their thinking and behavior to address problems such as phobia-related anxiety. The process may involve desensitization or exposure therapy, where a person is gradually exposed to the trigger until he/she can either manage his/her symptoms or remain symptom-free. Computerized SVT is not recommended for individuals with certain phobias, such as xenophobia.

Drug treatment

Medication is not a first-line treatment for people experiencing anxiety due to a phobia, but sometimes, in severe cases, the following may be prescribed for a period of time:

Antidepressants

• Tranquilizers such as diazepam
• Beta blockers (usually prescribed for tachycardia during a phobic attack).

However, the treatment of xenophobia remains problematic precisely because of the ambiguous nature of its definition.

*Before using any medications, consult your doctor!

How does xenophobia affect society?

In the news, xenophobia as a colloquial term refers primarily to the behavior of a group or individual based on a strong dislike or intolerance of people of a different race or culture based on a perceived threat. An example of such a threat is a person's or group's cultural perception that immigrants or foreigners are taking jobs away from native workers. The level of fear or hatred exceeds the average level of racism or prejudice.

Theoretical basis

One of the reasons why xenophobia has received virtually no theoretical support is probably that the phenomenon cannot be discussed without taking into account normative concepts that focus on attempts to separate “us” from “other”. Race, nation, ethnicity and culture are such concepts. In social and political reality, xenophobia manifests itself in accordance with the division of the world into one's own race, nation, ethnic group and culture and other races, nations, ethnic groups and cultures. This type of symbolic and normative worldview promotes egocentrism and is precisely the cognitive framework within which xenophobia is generated, formulated and propagated. Because fear and hatred, the two emotional states contained in xenophobia, are qualities based on subjective experience, they require cognitive pointers and social values ​​that allow them to focus on their object. Object focus is less relevant when someone is afraid than when someone hates. Therefore, hatred of what is strange or alien always requires naming and objectification. Labeling is the first step in creating an object against which xenophobic hatred can be directed. Social evaluation of the target then modulates the intensity of xenophobia; it causes a transition from fear of the other, i.e. latent xenophobia, to hatred of the other, i.e. violent xenophobia.

In particular, two fields of study deal with xenophobia: social psychologists study forms of in-group/out-group behavior in which xenophobia may manifest itself in covert form, while researchers in the social sciences and humanities examine and interpret the social construction of xenophobia and its impact on modern societies.

What causes xenophobia?

The current worldwide "epidemic" of xenophobia, or fear of strangers and foreigners, makes it necessary to understand this phenomenon, its characteristics, manifestations in history, and theories of its causes. Researchers have hypothesized that xenophobic attitudes and behavior are often driven by fear that foreigners pose a threat to one's community or national identity. Decades of research into minority communities have also shown that stress associated with stigma, bullying and discrimination is detrimental to physical and mental well-being. In this workshop we challenge hypotheses about xenophobic attitudes and explore the extent to which communities experience different psychological consequences from xenophobia. We'll start by taking a closer look at Executive Order 13769, dubbed the "Muslim Ban," which suspended the entry of citizens from numerous Muslim-majority countries and banned the entry of Syrian refugees indefinitely. The Muslim Ban coincided with the highest rate of hate crimes against Muslims in America. Following this case study, students will engage in discussions about other forms of xenophobia to better understand the psychology of xenophobia and its social consequences. A combination of group discussions, guest speakers, and field trips with community partners will provide students with different perspectives and a deeper understanding of these topics.

Although xenophobia can be a true phobia, it is often used in ways similar to the term homophobia. In this context, xenophobia characterizes people who dislike foreigners, believe that their country's culture is superior, or want to keep immigrants outside their country. Xenophobia may not have a true phobia on the part; instead, they engage in behavior that is harmful or contradictory to outsiders. Thus, the term has strong political connotations.

In the United States, several political groups have rallied to oppose illegal immigration by Latinos, especially from Mexico. In some cases, these groups oppose all immigration by people from Mexico. This opposition is sometimes expressed as fear. For example, anti-immigration groups may express fears of crime or lost jobs. Pro-immigration groups and Hispanic civil rights organizations have labeled the groups xenophobic.

Xenophobia is...

Greek in origin (ξένος is translated as “ stranger ”, φόβος – “ fear ”), the concept of “xenophobia” means the perception of a stranger (a person or group of people) as incomprehensible, unpleasant, and therefore dangerous and hostile.

This term is considered in two aspects:

1. Medical . We are talking about pronounced psychological discomfort when interacting with strangers. Stupor and anxiety arise, sometimes leading to a panic attack (what is this?). Such people do not feel comfortable in a crowd, in a new place or when communicating with strangers. Even in a critical situation, a xenophobe cannot always overcome himself by turning to someone he does not know for help.
2. Social: negative attitude towards communities, groups or individuals of a different gender, race, subculture (what is this?), etc. They are perceived as emotionally unacceptable, hostile.

Here is the “thought chain” that arises in the mind of a xenophobe when encountering something or someone alien:

1. The one I see is “different”, a stranger (dark-skinned, overweight, gay...). It doesn’t matter what the difference is, the xenophobe is frightened by the very fact of the difference with himself, with a familiar and understandable environment.
2. I don't know him and it's dangerous. What to expect from him? Trouble may follow. That's why he annoys me (option: I hate him).
3. I'm afraid of him. I need to protect myself from a stranger.

This simple chain is usually not realized by a person, arising in the depths of consciousness.

The trigger may be a negative experience from the past, attitudes learned from childhood, or a consequence of the stress experienced. However, in many cases the xenophobe himself is not able to explain the reason for what is happening.

We can say, in simple terms, that xenophobia is a state of fear that is irrational and poorly controlled.

A “bouquet” of negative emotions arises (dislike, rejection, rejection, hatred, etc.) in relation to everything that falls under the category of “alien”. Natural fear of the unknown develops from ordinary caution into intolerance.

Xenophobia in psychology

When xenophobia manifests itself as a true phobia, it appears in two different forms:

• Cultural xenophobia occurs when a person is afraid of someone else's culture.
• Immigrant xenophobia occurs when someone is intimidated by people or groups of people who are perceived as outsiders.

Some evolutionary psychologists argue that xenophobia may be part of a person's genetic behavioral heritage. Perhaps the tendency toward xenophobia protected human ancestors from outside groups that might harm them. Other scientists have complained that there is little more to it than simple evolutionary history. They note that the claim of genetic xenophobia is not supported by any evidence and can be used as a justification to justify and naturalize racism and discriminatory anti-immigration policies.

The meaning of the word xenophobia literally translated from Greek means “fear of a stranger” (xenos - “stranger, foreigner”, phobos - “fear, fear”). Sufferers believe that strangers of other nationalities can somehow harm them. This may provoke a violent reaction towards the stranger, resulting in a physical or verbal attack. Sometimes a xenophobic person prefers to move away from direct clashes and acute situations to a safe place. What is xenophobia, why it arises, how to avoid it and its place in the modern world.

Origins of xenophobia

All people of the 21st century, advanced users of the World Wide Web and all sorts of nano-techno-gadgets, have preserved built-in biological mechanisms - a kind of software from the Stone Age.

At the dawn of human history, everything incomprehensible , different from the usual, caused fear, drawing in the imagination the image of Babayka. And much was incomprehensible to the caveman, so fears and hostility multiplied and were deposited at the level of instincts.

The appearance of strangers was especially frightening. It threatened the established way of life and meant a battle for territory or resources, similar to the one that took place on the Nostromo ship in the film Alien.

Even peace-loving strangers could bring with them microorganisms that were detrimental to the health of the natives (due to the lack of antibodies to them). They had to share sources of food with them - already meager. By introducing themselves into society, uninvited guests brought changes with them and knocked them out of their comfort zone.

There is an opinion among scientists that xenophobia is a form of archaic defense of the people, a manifestation of the instinct of self-preservation.

One of the modern causes of xenophobia is globalization (the process of universal unification and integration). It gives rise to the fear of losing national and cultural identity and forces people to build a wall between their own and others.

What is xenophobia: a brief description

Xenophobia is a feeling of extreme fear and apprehension that occurs when meeting a stranger or foreigner. Characterized by a morbid fear of, intense dislike or hatred of the stranger, foreigner, or any entity perceived as foreign. It is caused by intense but negative past experiences, such as post-traumatic stress disorder following a terrorist attack or racial genocide. However, sometimes it is not possible to pinpoint an obvious reason that can be identified for the occurrence of this fear.

A person suffering from xenophobia perceives an unknown or unfamiliar external element as a personal potential threat to himself or his loved ones. Xenophobia is often an impulsive, exaggerated and unfounded feeling. Symptoms that occur when meeting a foreigner or stranger in a person suffering from this disease:

• anxiety;
• shortness of breath;
• panic attacks;
• shiver;
• profuse sweating;
• nausea;
• accelerated pulse.

Symptoms of xenophobia occur when a person goes to extreme measures to avoid interacting with a stranger.

The place of xenophobia in the modern world

Xenophobia in the modern world is both a social and political problem. This is often driven more by racism and nationalism than simply by fear of strangers. The very fact of foreigners living in any state often creates problems in their interaction with the local ethnic group. And as soon as the socio-economic situation worsens, relationships with “strangers” acquire the features of cultural, ethnic, linguistic, religious or other forms of rejection. In the modern world, in addition to obvious manifestations of hatred, this phenomenon is of a hidden nature, and is expressed in the form of persistent prejudices and persistent non-recognition of “outsiders”.

Xenophobia - what is it in simple words: disrespect, hostility, even fanatical hatred towards people with alien views. This is especially true in our time, when same-sex marriage, transsexualism, feminism, other religious views, etc. are widely promoted. Today, xenophobes often gather in groups, and their meetings with such individuals end unpredictably, even leading to mass fights and murders. The leaders of such groups skillfully manage the fears of their people to achieve personal or political goals.

Psychologists call to fight this, because they put tolerance in the first place, because it is the key to peace among people of different nations.

Why is xenophobia dangerous?

Xenophobia - what is it in relation to society as a whole? Psychologists believe that xenophobia is contagious, and this carries a certain danger, especially if a person in a leading position suffers from it. This is further aggravated by the leader’s charisma, which forces the masses to follow his lead, so to speak, and act under the influence of other people’s phobias. Particularly dangerous manifestations of xenophobia in its various forms are terrorism, persecution of entire nations and peoples, leading to their complete extermination.

Types and forms of xenophobia

There are two forms of manifestation of this disease:

• hidden - this is when hostility is formed on prejudices and is directed towards objects that do not fit into the usual way of life;
• open - formed on the basis of ideological views and is characterized by obvious aggressiveness aimed at strangers, manifested by discrimination, violence and extremism.

There are also four types of manifestations of the disease:

• religious is a stable, fanatical rejection of another religion and the people who profess it. Islam is particularly intolerant in the modern world. It is explained by fear of terrorist acts and explosions in public places, for which Islamic extremists claim responsibility. Resulting in hatred of all Muslims and Islam in general;
• racial xenophobia, also called ethnic, is manifested by persistent hostility and hatred towards representatives of another race (ethnicity). It is formed on a deep conviction of racial inequality and promotes the superiority of one race over another. In turn, it is divided into several subtypes, such as: anti-Semitism (hatred of Jews), sinophobia (hatred of the Chinese), ethnophobia (hatred of people of a different nationality), racism (hatred of people of a different race);
• social - manifested by aggression directed at specific segments of society. This is the rejection of such people as: gays or lesbians (homophobia), disabled people (handicapism), refugees (migrant phobia). Even financial status, appearance, accent, level of culture are reasons for the manifestation of social xenophobia;
• territorial - characterized by hatred of absolutely all foreigners who invade the territory that the xenophobe considers his own. What does xenophobia on a territorial basis mean in the broad sense? Often this type of xenophobia manifests itself as extremism, that is, xenophobes use forceful, aggressive methods to prevent violators from remaining on their territory. In a narrower sense, the manifestation of this type of xenophobia is a division along local lines: a war between neighborhood gangs or teenagers from different streets.

Xenophobia - what is it?

Xenophobia is a quality inherent in all people. In the evolutionary process, such manifestations of intolerance helped races to survive and preserve the gene pool. Xenophobia arose from the fear of losing one's own national culture and familiar security .

Any other cultural norm that carries with it a potential threat to the usual comfort is perceived by the individual as something hostile. This is how xenophobia is born.

A dangerous foreign manifestation causes a logical desire to get rid of it. According to psychologists, a phobia of this level has a complex and confusing origin (compared to other fears and mental disorders).

Definition of xenophobia

A xenophobe, for whom this phobia becomes the goal of life and the main object of his worldview, becomes a potentially dangerous person for society. Intolerance and aggression towards people representing a different race, religion, or social culture are becoming one of the main dangers of the modern world.

What does xenophobia lead to?

Xenophobic sentiments have dangerous consequences. Remember the Ku Klux Klan, the Jewish massacres, the Crusades, fascism - all these are manifestations of xenophobia. Since ancient times, Russia has been distinguished by its tolerance towards strangers and representatives of other concessions. But lately, xenophobia very often “raises its head” here too.

Treatment of pathology

If you recognize the problem in time and contact a good specialist, he will successfully cure the patient of this disease. Xenophobia is not a difficult to treat disease. The main and decisive factor for successful treatment is the patient’s understanding of the problem and his sincere desire to be treated. Timely contact with a specialist will help you avoid conflicts and acute situations with colleagues, friends and relatives.

Since xenophobia is the fear of something, it is treated by a psychologist or psychotherapist. It will help you find out the roots of these fears, as well as get rid of unnecessary beliefs and make you look at the current state of affairs from a different angle. To achieve these goals, the specialist uses all kinds of psychological training and conversations. In some cases, hypnosis helps to get rid of the disease, however, in extreme cases, if the patient’s psyche is severely damaged, drug treatment is used.

You can sign up for hypnosis with psychologist-hypnologist Nikita Valerievich Baturin.

He also created a unique audio trance “From panic attacks and fears”, which will allow you to remove the symptoms of xenophobia.

Treatment and self-help

To get rid of xenophobia, a few sessions of psychotherapy are enough. However, the problem is that a person with such a disorder usually does not recognize the presence of the disease, mistaking inappropriate reactions for special traits of his character.

In general, this disorder is easy to treat. The psychologist will help you look at a person’s behavior from the outside, and also simulate a situation in which the xenophobe himself will take the place of the object of phobia.

Self-help is about controlling your feelings and emotions. A person must learn to respect the object of his fear, for this it is necessary to get to know him better.

Prevention of xenophobia

Everyone knows what xenophobia means and who a xenophobe is, but not everyone knows how not to become one. Statistics show that young people are more susceptible to this disorder because they are more driven and suggestible. Therefore, prevention methods should be focused specifically on the younger generation. And the more areas of young people’s lives they cover, the more effective the result. Thus, preventive measures should cover the following areas of activity:

• social sphere. It is necessary to apply measures aimed at protecting all segments of the population. This is especially true for vulnerable groups, such as the poor, displaced people, and refugees. This will help not to heat up the psychological microclimate of the area;
• economic sphere. Take measures aimed at improving and normalizing the standard of living of the population;
• political sphere. Measures should be aimed at resolving controversial issues in multinational regions;
• educational and information spheres. Introduction of measures leading to the acceptance of “other” people, understanding of their culture and way of life;
• entertainment sector. Conduct regular cultural and entertainment events in regions with a multinational population to understand each other’s culture.

The spread of xenophobia recently is frightening in its scale. Therefore, it is advisable to take preventive measures at the state level:

1. Give teenagers information. Fear and hatred of the unknown must be replaced with familiarization with the national traditions and culture of other peoples.
2. Proper education. It is necessary to instill in the younger generation the ideas of equality, tolerance and respect for other nationalities and races.
3. Conduct explanatory conversations with teenagers about the dangers of xenophobia as an ideological weapon.
4. Strive to identify and neutralize potentially dangerous youth groups with an extremist bent at an early stage.

People tend to divide themselves into groups, idealize their group, and despise and hate those who belong to another group. This is a manifestation of tribal thinking (tribalism). The division can occur on completely idiotic grounds, for example, by phone brand or favorite TV series. Let's talk about xenophobia, or, simply, fear and hatred of the alien. Xenophobia includes many things - racism, national and religious intolerance, homophobia, football hooliganism and so on, the scope is very wide. Xenophobia is an ancient instinct that nests in each of us at the genetic level. For example, even infants prefer to smile at members of their own race. Even the most open and mega-tolerant liberal hippie has his own, very strict, racial/ethnic/religious preferences in choosing a sexual partner.

Xenophobia dates back to the very origin of life. For example, in the animal world, rejection of other species—species discrimination (specialism)—is widespread. But even intraspecific discrimination occurs at the level of packs and clans. Primitive man always sought to support representatives of his tribe, conquer and suppress other tribes. In conditions of the most severe struggle for existence, this was completely justified. For this purpose, adaptive mechanisms for recognizing strangers have been developed. Any little thing could trigger rejection. Aliens are subhumans, lower beings; you don’t need to observe moral standards with them; you can easily take away their resources and discriminate against them. The “naturalness” of xenophobia does not mean the correctness of this phenomenon. Worms and hemorrhoids are also very natural. For me, a person’s tendency towards racism, aggressive nationalism, hatred of certain political groups, minorities, and so on is a clear negative sign on several levels at once, including moral, intellectual, hierarchical. Let's go through all the punts. Moral and psychological planes. Hatred and the desire to humiliate and belittle other people are, in principle, a rather flawed pastime from an ethical point of view. IMHO, almost all xenophobes have psychological problems, at a minimum, they are embittered, they seek to take their anger out on others on very murky grounds (see below). Even if we admit that members of one group have objective shortcomings in relation to another group, this does not provide moral grounds for being aggressive towards them, fearing them, or hating them. I always want to ask a simple question - why are you so evil? If I discover that my neighbor is less intelligent/has physical disabilities, then I will not try to humiliate him or show his inferiority. This kind of behavior disgusts me, it is both ugly and petty. Intellectual plane. From an intellectual point of view, phenomena such as racism do not stand up to criticism. Being racist is just stupid. If you think about it, it’s extremely ridiculous that your attitude towards a person is the presence or absence of some fucking pigment in the skin. You are controlled by paint, congratulations, ball, you are a dunce. Xenophobes try to rationalize their own fears and aversions, but they don’t succeed. Something like: “I met so-and-so and they were like this, so that means they all are like this.” Brilliant, Watson, then, based on two or three interactions, you attributed the same properties to a multi-million sample. Pathetic. Or this: “But it has been shown that blacks have a lower IQ!” And what? Do you, my friend, even know that intelligence is very prevalent in the population? Do you understand that your neighbor Gosha, on the other hand, may have an intelligence twenty points lower/higher than yours? Does this mean that he is supposed to be recorded as a lower/higher being? Maybe children too, as subhumans? And pensioners? And so on in the reasoning of rationalizing xenophobes, wherever you spit, there is always a mistake on a mistake, a jamb on a jamb. This is not surprising - being on emotions (fear and hatred) they are not able to think critically, this has been neurophysiologically proven.

The xenophobia test, IMHO, may be a basic test of cognitive abilities. If you screw up in such an example of a glaring discrepancy between instincts and reality, and do not correct the trajectory of your thinking, then what about the truly difficult things? The brain of a person with above average intelligence should automatically recognize what is wrong with the algorithms: “Difference in behavior means evil” and “A person is defined by belonging to a group, his personality does not matter.” High intelligence, IMHO, works at the level of individuals, not social labels. He finds smart people by brain performance, and not by the concentration of melanin in the epidermis or the style of national costumes. Even if a xenophobe is not generally stupid, he is definitely low in one dimension of intelligence - his openness to new things. Hierarchical plane. In my opinion, hatred based on absurdly broad criteria (belonging to a certain ethnic group, race, religion, sexual preference, political views) is the prerogative of low-ranking individuals, omegas. The Alpha will focus, choose a specific enemy, and determine it based on logic and common sense. You may not agree with his point of view, but at least he clearly knows what he wants and is ready to confront. He will act and remove obstacles in his path. Abstract hatred of Khachs, Ukrainians, Katsaps, Pindos, Jews, homosexuals - this is for weaklings, those who do not want to lift a finger and simply express passive aggression. Hatred towards representatives of a group that our xenophobe has never even seen looks especially comical. Let’s not forget that the main goal of an omega is to do nothing, so his targets of aggression are corresponding. The most disadvantaged social classes gravitate toward xenophobia (in a sense, they can be called the omega class of society). Where there is more struggle for survival, more xenophobia, this is not surprising. I do not at all believe that xenophobes are psychologically problematic, underdeveloped, or low-ranking. But one of the three is a must. A xenophobe may be a good and intelligent individual, very pleasant to talk to, but what he definitely won’t be for me is moral authority and a model of intelligence. I also will not expect him to occupy a position that involves responsibility. I can be accused of xenophobia towards xenophobes, however, I hasten to disappoint - the latter are not some kind of separate, spatially localized group. Xenophobia is ubiquitous, a behavioral program that goes back to the depths of evolutionary history. Only those strong in mind and spirit can overcome it.

Nationalism as a manifestation of xenophobia

Nationalism is often confused with xenophobic sentiments and referred to as a manifestation of open xenophobia. In fact, one should distinguish true nationalism from xenophobic one. True nationalism lies in love for one's own homeland, respect and support for ethnic traditions and culture .

Features of the manifestation of xenophobia

Nationalism is a manifestation of sincere admiration and pride for the various achievements of compatriots in various fields of science and technology. But the concept of xenophobia can also be included in the definition of nationalism. This occurs in the case of the manifestation of false nationalism, distorted and aggressive.

The goal of a xenophobic nationalist is a demonstrative, exaggerated love for his own country. International friendship becomes for such a person just another way to prove his own superiority as a representative of a certain state.

Such a xenophobe expresses open hostility to the successes of the “stranger” and openly belittles his obvious advantages and talents due to his belonging to a different people. And true nationalism is based on peacefulness towards other nationalities and religions.

Prerequisites

Biological basis of xenophobia

V. R. Dolnik pointed out that animals have the phenomenon of ethological isolation - aggression or hostility shown by them towards similar species and subspecies. According to Dolnik, for humans, a wary reaction to dissimilar people is inevitable and biologically normal. Also, in a person, differences associated with language, tradition, culture, clothing, hairstyle, religion can create an external impression of a different appearance and turn on this mechanism. Thus, according to ethologists, racial and national rejection is based on the failure of a behavioral program designed for a different case - species and subspecies differences.

According to V. R. Dolnik, xenophobia is a failure of the genetic mechanism, which explains its irrationality and insusceptibility to rational arguments. The self-faulty functioning of a genetic program can also be genetically determined.

Xenophobia could have arisen as an adaptation tool during evolution, which contributed to survival and the transmission of genes to descendants. Thus, the fear of strangers could be, among other things, based on the observation that strangers can be carriers of new, and therefore very dangerous (due to the lack of necessary antibodies) pathogens for indigenous residents.

What does xenophobia lead to?

Exposure to xenophobia greatly increases the possibility of acute social conflicts leading to numerous casualties. In particular cases, this danger manifests itself in the rejection of all moral norms and prohibitions, which leads to impulsive and rash actions. After all, a sick person firmly believes that a “stranger” is capable of showing cruelty and sadism towards him or his loved ones, and therefore attacks first. This leads to self-harm and murder, which leads to the defendant's bench.

Story

Global mass phobias based on xenophobia arise in the modern era. The “great xenophobias” were formed in Europe, but took on a global character and spread not only to the countries of the “European world.” By the beginning of the 20th century, the “great xenophobia” included the concepts of the “world Jewish conspiracy” and the “yellow peril.” Moreover, these two phobias could merge into one world conspiracy theory. Thus, the far-right Russian politician Vladimir Purishkevich stated that Jews are deliberately sabotaging the fight against the looming “yellow danger” in order to undermine the power of Russia, and Mikhail Menshikov stated that Jews and Chinese are united by “economic parasitism” and “the ancient claim of Asia to own us.”

At the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, they were replaced by the concepts of “Islamic threat” and “invasion of migrants”. However, there are also other options for using the concepts of “great xenophobia”, for example, statements that “Western civilization” led by Jews pursues the goal of suppressing the “Islamic world” before further confrontation with the “yellow civilization”.