Repression is an action taken to prevent something from being expressed or shown openly, while suppression is the act of forcibly suppressing or restraining someone's behavior. Repressed individuals experience intense emotions like sadness, anger, rage, frustration, and anxiety that can lead to various mental health issues. Extremist ideologies have been linked to repressed desires, creating a state of fear and rigidity. This paper will explore how this occurs within extremist groups and its implications for society.
Extreme belief systems often involve strict moral binaries where there are no grey areas between good and evil, right and wrong, black and white. These groups often seek to control people's thoughts and behaviors through coercion and violence, leading to a lack of autonomy and freedom. Extremists may feel unable to express their true feelings and opinions due to fear of punishment or exclusion. They become conditioned to follow orders without question and adopt a code of conduct that is unquestionable and inflexible.
The extreme repression of desire in these environments creates a sense of emotional rigidity where people become emotionally numb. They are unable to process feelings, which leads to confusion and conflict within themselves. The suppression of sexuality further contributes to this issue by making it difficult to connect with others emotionally and physically. This produces a feeling of isolation and alienation from others, as well as a lack of understanding of one's own identity.
In such an environment, ambiguity becomes a source of fear, and people become highly sensitive to it. Any deviation from the established norms is seen as a threat, leading to paranoia and suspicion. People learn to distrust anything outside the boundaries of their group, even if it poses no immediate risk. This can lead to a breakdown in communication and relationships, both internally and externally.
The result of all this is a society full of individuals who cannot handle complexity and uncertainty. Everything must be categorized into clear-cut labels with little room for interpretation. People become afraid of challenging authority figures or questioning existing belief systems because they have been taught not to do so. They believe there are right answers and wrong answers, and nothing in between.
Extremist groups create a culture of fear where any expression of desire or individualism is suppressed, resulting in emotional rigidity, a fear of ambiguity, and strict moral binaries. This perpetuates cycles of violence and hate, making peaceful coexistence impossible. It also hurts the members of these groups, who live in constant anxiety and paranoia.
How does the repression of desire within extremist ideologies produce emotional rigidity, fear of ambiguity, and strict moral binaries?
Desire is an intrinsic part of human nature, which means that it can be difficult to suppress one's urges towards pleasure, especially when they are perceived as forbidden by society or religion. When individuals experience this suppression, they may become emotionally rigid and unable to accept or process different viewpoints or experiences outside their belief system. This can lead to a fear of ambiguity and uncertainty, as they may feel that anything that contradicts their values is inherently wrong or dangerous.