Nihilism is a philosophical concept, but psychology, which has emerged as an independent science from philosophy, is also actively studying the features of this phenomenon and the consequences of nihilism. The nihilist denies generally accepted norms, values, ideals. It is obvious that it is not easy to live in a society with such opposition.
What is Nihilism
There is no unambiguous understanding of the essence of the phenomenon and a theoretical approach to it:
- For some people, this is a way of life and a style of thought, self-realization, manifestation of individuality, defending one’s point of view, searching for something new.
- For others, nihilism is a deviant form of behavior caused by impairments in socialization and personality adaptation.
Nihilism is most often found in youth subcultures and among adolescents. What do these categories have in common? The need for self-expression, self-actualization, independence and opposition (separation from parents). For some, nihilism goes away with age, while others retain a rebellious spirit for life. What is it: personality traits or the consequences of psychological problems?
Nihilism is classified and viewed in a narrow sense, for example, in matters of denial of religion or state-established rights. In addition, social, moral, cultural and other types of nihilism are distinguished. In the context of this article, it is not appropriate to consider the classification in detail; it is important to talk about the problem itself in a broad sense and its consequences for the individual. From the standpoint of psychology, one type is interesting – demonstrative nihilism.
Demonstrative nihilism (youthful, adolescent)
The psychological syndrome of demonstrative nihilism occurs in adolescence, however, due to the peculiarities of personality development, its signs can manifest themselves in more mature years.
Demonstrative nihilism presupposes the cultivation of originality and uniqueness, the purposeful creation of an image “not like everyone else,” blind denial of all norms and standards of behavior and thinking. A demonstrative nihilist is poorly oriented in his inner world, he does not know his own peculiarities at all, but he knows that he always needs to go as a counterweight to society. In this case, nihilism can hardly be called a worldview and philosophy of the individual. This is a deviation in behavior, a violation of socialization and self-identification.
A demonstrative nihilist openly and covertly enters into conflicts, disputes, polemics. Most often, a nihilist presents himself in a negative way, disputes from the everyday level move to the level of ideas, culture, and values.
Every movement, deed, element of clothing, word of a nihilist is demonstratively opposed to those around him. The behavior is not only demonstrative, but also extravagant. Often, extravagance borders on asociality. The surrounding people, in turn, fix their attention only on these aspects of the personality, which further reinforces in the self-consciousness of the nihilist the image he demonstrates of “not like everyone else,” a provocative, shocking person.
Without correction, the help of a psychologist, such behavior turns into crimes, alcohol dependence, sexual promiscuity, etc. Each time it will be more difficult for a person to shock, the boundaries between social and asocial behavior will increasingly blur.
Who is a nihilist
The term “nihilism” is more often used in the sphere of politics, where it means “not recognizing anything.” But in a broad sense, it is used in relation to youth movements, and in relation to adolescents, and in relation to the worldview of a particular person.
The nihilist denies social moral norms and values (love, family, health), patterns of behavior, the established civil law regime. Sometimes a nihilist finds like-minded people, but together with them (or without them) he is cut off from real life in society.
The nihilist denies everything, even the very value of human life. He does not recognize authorities, leaders, does not trust anyone and does not obey. Nihilism presupposes a rejection of modern laws and standards of life, but at the same time a nihilist may well be guided by the orders of other communities. However, even more often the nihilist propagandizes his own norms of life.
A nihilist is characterized by cynical thinking, smirks, caustic statements and ridicule, provocations, irony, and impudent behavior. He often talks about how he is “enraged” by humanity and the very structure of the world.
Reasons for nihilism
A nihilist becomes one who feels pressure, the need to obey, an unmet need for self-realization. All people live in one society, why then some are able to declare themselves within the framework of classical foundations, while others enter into confrontation with society?
The roots of nihilism go back to childhood, in which the child was badly offended. So he gets angry with everyone, hates the whole world, denies everything in the world and despises. But in fact, he is angry and offended only at one specific person (someone from childhood), and does not accept only himself.
Disappointment in the world and growing up, lack of meaning in life and misunderstanding of one’s existence are additional reasons for nihilism. It is worth noting that they stem from the previous reasons.
Denial is a defense mechanism of the psyche, with the help of which a person tries to maintain health in a traumatic situation. What parents are raising a nihilist:
- demanding and forbidding;
- overly protective;
- passive, detached, emotionally cold.
Any childhood perceived as difficult and dangerous by a child potentially forms a nihilist. The adult nihilist occupies a borderline position: on the one hand, he tries to escape from the past, denies it; on the other hand, he relies on the experience of the past and negatively evaluates the present with the future (he sees the same evil and danger in them).
Awareness of the conventionality of human freedom, which occurs in adolescence, provokes the existential beginning of nihilism. When a person realizes that he simultaneously feels the need for freedom and individuality, but at the same time wants to be involved in society, then an internal conflict develops with attempts to find a middle ground, to be a free and independent person within the framework of society, a group of people. With an inadequate resolution of this conflict, a desire arises to destroy oneself and the world through denial, that is, nihilism.
Epilogue
The nihilist, as a rule, is not understood by the people around him, which is why he withdraws into himself. He becomes hostage to his own conservatism and categoricalness, fixation on his beliefs. The personality develops only in the process of activity, social activity, respectively, the nihilist does not develop.
