Contents
The people of Russia love to be feared, according to opinion polls. Psychologists discuss where this strange desire to inspire fear comes from in us and is it as strange as it seems at first glance?
In our country, 86% of respondents believe that the world is afraid of Russia. Three-quarters of them are glad that we inspire fear in other states. What does this joy say? And where did she come from?
Why… do we want to be feared?
“Soviet people were proud of the country’s achievements,” says social psychologist Sergei Enikolopov. But then we turned from a great power into a country of the second world. And the fact that Russia is again feared is perceived as a return of greatness.
“In 1954, the German national team won the World Cup. For the Germans, this victory became, as it were, revenge for the defeat in the war. They got a reason to be proud. We got such a reason after the success of the Sochi Olympics. The joy of being afraid of us is a less respectable feeling, but it is from the same series, ”the psychologist is sure.
We are offended that we were denied friendship
During the years of perestroika, the Russians were sure that just a little more — and life would become the same as in Europe and the United States, and we ourselves would feel among the inhabitants of developed countries equal among equals. But that did not happen. As a result, we react like a child entering a playground for the first time. “He wants to be friends, but the other kids don’t accept him. And then he gets into a fight — if you don’t want to be friends, then be afraid, ”explains existential psychotherapist Svetlana Krivtsova.
We want to rely on the power of the state
Russia lives with a sense of anxiety and uncertainty, notes Svetlana Krivtsova: “It is caused by a decrease in income, a crisis, layoffs that have affected almost everyone.” It is difficult to endure such a situation.
We harbor the illusion that this abstract force will not crush us, but, on the contrary, will protect us. But it’s an illusion
“When there is no reliance on the inner life, there is no habit of analysis, only one reliance remains — on strength, aggression, something that has great energy. We harbor the illusion that this abstract force will not crush us, but, on the contrary, will protect us. But this is an illusion,” says the therapist.
They are afraid of the strong, but we cannot do without strength
The desire to instill fear should not be unconditionally condemned, Sergey Enikolopov believes: “Some people will perceive these figures as evidence of a certain perversion of the Russian soul. But in fact, only a strong and confident person can behave calmly.
The fear of others is generated by our power. “It is even better to enter into negotiations, feeling that they are afraid of you,” Sergei Enikolopov states. “Otherwise, no one will agree on anything with you: they will simply put you out the door and, by the right of the strong, everything will be decided without you.”
The poll of the Public Opinion Foundation was conducted at the end of December 2016.