social construction of reality mechanisms in religious extremism

Abstract

In the manuscript, the social construction of reality in religious extremism is studied. The daily life of extremists is seen as an alternative social reality, which is opposed to objective reality and positioned as the only true one. The methodology of the study is based on P. Berger’s phenomenological theory about world construction by many transcendental subjects. The daily routine of extremists is regulated by the social order established in the extremist community, which is ensured by the specific attitudes, preferences, conventions, values, and knowledge systems that are contained in ideology. An important scientific result of the study is the characterization of the social construction mechanisms concerning the extremist world outlook. Cognitive biases, the assertion of personal significance contribute to a positive perception of the ideology provisions, and active participation in extremist activities. The «friends-foes» binary position is the polarization of views, the limitation of external contacts and the formation of a positive image of friends while ignoring their negative qualities, hyperbolizing the negative qualities of foes. The idealization of history and the heroization of individual participants form false notions of justice, the possibility of creating an ideal state system, and motivate extremists to commit unlawful acts, including ones with violence usage. Thinking models are adjusted per ideology, new patterns of behavior are created through social actions and ritual practices. The status of fulfilling the higher forces will, a sacred duty to establish the common good and fight against world evil is given to the illegal character of extremist activity. These mechanisms are characteristic of various types of extremism (national, political). Religion acts as an element reinforcing ideological content, allowing extremist communities to project ultimate meanings into objective reality, endowing it with a given meaning.