Reasons Of Extremism

This essay is based on my personal learning. I have been working with religious extremists for the past several years to reduce extremism. I learned from my experience, observation and discussion that people are not extremists in the beginning. He is like a clean slate. But his environment, education, community, media and socialization make his ideas become beliefs with the power of conviction. They do not have the ability to listen to opposing views. It has to do with reading the same books from childhood to adulthood in the same environment and with the same ideas.

Such a person is never agreed with those who challenge his views as this makes him feel that he is wrong and that his beliefs are crumbling. And he wants to defend his belief by all kinds of defence.

It is such a condition that a person must have patience, tolerance and confidence to change. However, this also involves the risk that the convert may be subjected to torture, so he must be in control of his words. Word controls will help protect this. Words are the only tool he can use to change and hurt people. I have inference that there are several reasons of extremism and few of them are following:

(1) Such person think in black and white

(2) Nurtured in rigid envionment specifically at home, school and community

(3) Taught specific literature or given instruction in specific stric environment

(4) Role model is extremist

(5) Religion perspective is presented with specific lenses

(6) Life after death is connected with rewards 

(7) Strong links with specific groups

(8) Enemy is painted as a villain who is responsible for his/her failures etc.