Origins of the radicalized mind
I believe there are two kinds of people.
- Those who believe a semblance of order and structure can be derived from life with hard work, dogma and intelligence. (It can be but it’s an illusion, keep living and you will see why).
- And those who realize control is impossible yet still work hard with knowledge that life can sometimes be joyful and touchingly beautiful despite chaos.
I believe 99% of violent mass atrocities come from an extreme segment in the first group, radical fanatics. Radical fanatics believe absolute order, certainty and predictability is achievable if everyone else believes and behaves in a highly specific way, their way.
Why do radical fanatics want order?
It boils down to fear — a gnawing fear — that human life is completely unpredictable; fear that human life doesn’t make complete sense; fear that life will never be neatly wrapped with a bow. Radical fanatics are fundamentally unwilling to deal with uncertainty.
How do radical fanatics cope?
Most fanatics cope by: 1) Tuning out opposition 2) Expending tremendous effort to spread ideology 3) Fellowship with other like-minded fanatics. If these methods don’t provide relief, then fanatics turn to violence and become radicalized. Radical fanatics carry a false hope that violence will ultimately produce a society with absolute order, structure, certainty and predictably.
No gray area for fanatics
Radical fanatics take fear avoidance to the highest of possible degrees. Violence is preferable to self introspection. Violence is preferable to altering a long held absolute belief. Despite massive evidence contradicting arcane beliefs, radical fanactics are unwilling to make concessions. Making any alteration opens the door to original fear. No gray area can exist for fanatics, radical or otherwise. Gray area represents uncertainty and uncertainty leads to questioning and questioning opens another door to original fear. The orignal fear typically revolves around the idea that life is random and uncontrollable. Gray area is the fanatic’s worst nightmare.
Examples throughout history
Hitler is the defacto example of a radical fanatic. The methods he employed to avoid his own personal fears reached obscene proportions. He believed absolute order and control could only be achieved by eradicating entire swaths of human population and converting the rest to his ideology. Stalin is another example that employed this method. Modern day radical fanatics have gotten smarter. They understand that eradicating entire segments of society is impossible. They have learned from past failures. Generating fear to mask their own fears works for them. Their ideology receives worldwide media attention and people convert to the cause. It’s worth noting that most radical fanatics start as harmless fanatics with absolute ideas that appeal to a mass audience. Donald Trump is not radicalized. However, his fanatical thinking is certainly a cause for concern and we should all be very weary of his popularity as a candidate for presidency.
Preventative Solutions?
Mental health and intervention. There is nothing wrong with being in the first category of people. However, if you feel overwhelmed by fear, then it may be time to talk to someone. Finding relief from overwhelming fear requires digging deep, facing your original fear, and figuring out why you are avoiding it. It’s not easy.
Meditate. Lean into your fear through meditation ( I learned this method from the book Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach). Feel the uncomfortableness. Maintain your composure. Stay in a meditative state until the fear subsides. This builds confidence, lessens impulsive tendencies and establishes a foundation for calm problem solving methods.
Feel emotional pain. Humans possess an incredible tolerance for pain. Each one of us holds a reservoir of untapped strength. It’s much easier to deal in absolutes and avoid pain. Feeling emotional pain — and accepting it — is the only way to truly end long term suffering at the hands of fear.
There will always be chaos. There will always be despair. There will always be tragic circumstances beyond our control. And there will be times when despite doing everything right, life doesn’t go our way. And it’s ok. We need to learn to accept it, grieve and move on. The best things in life often come as a complete surprise. So don’t become a fanatic. Becoming a fanatic is not a long term solution to fear.
