Abstract
This paper will examine the concepts of fundamentalism and paranoia to contribute understanding to how extremist positions have developed. Fundamentalism is a rigid, dogmatic, and skewed view that dismisses other competing and conflicting viewpoints. Extreme feelings can only lead to extremist behavior. Fears in our inner selves will only fuel the fires of paranoia, encourage fundamentalist behavior, and lead to group conflicts. We will examine this on micro (group) and macro (society) levels.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition. Washington, DC: APA.
Ben-Yehuda, N. (1993). Political assassinations by Jews. New York: State University of New York.
Bion, W.R. (1955). Group dynamics: A re-view. In: M. Klein, P. Heimann & R. E. Money-Kyrle (Eds.), New directions in psycho-analysis. London: Maresfield, 1985.
Breslow, M. (1999). Soros: Beware market fundamentalism. Dollars & Sense, January/February, 221:8.
Eysenck, M. (1997). Anxiety and cognition: A unified theory. London: Psychology Press.
Freud, S. (1921). Group psychology and the analysis of the ego. Standard Edition, volume 18. London: Hogarth Press, 1981.
Fromm, E. (1956). Psychoanalysis and religion. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Frosh, S. (1997). Fundamentalism, gender and family therapy. Journal of Family Therapy, 19: 417–430.
Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (1987). Us and them: The psychology of ethnonationalism. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Jaques, E. (1955). Social systems as a defence against persecutory and depressive anxiety. In: M. Klein, P. Heimann & R. E. Money-Kyrle (Eds.), New directions in psycho-analysis. London: Maresfield, 1985.
Kafka, J.S. (1971). Ambiguity for individuation: A critique and reformulation of double-bind theory. Archives of General Psychiatry, 25:232–239.
Karpin, M. & Friedman, I. (1998). Murder in the name of God. New York: Metropolitan Books.
Kelly, W. (1970). Impollutable Pogo. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Kernberg, O. (1998). Ideology, conflict, and leadership in groups and organizations. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press.
Kernberg, O. (1996). A psychoanalytic theory of personality disorders. In: J. F. Clarkin & M. F. Lenzenweger (eds.), Major theories of personality disorder. New York: Guilford Press.
Kierkegaard, S. (1946). The concept of dread. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Klein, M. (1948). On the theory of anxiety and guilt. In: M. Klein, P. Heimann, S. Isaacs & J. Riviere, (Eds.), Developments in psychoanalysis. London: Karnac, 1989.
Klein, M. (1946). Envy and gratitude. New York: Delta.
Krystal, H. (1988). Integration and self-healing. Hillsdale, New Jersey: Analytic Press.
Küng, H. (1979). Freud and the problem of God. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Landau, D. (1993). Piety and power: The world of Jewish fundamentalism. New York: Hill and Wang.
Le Bon, G. (1896). The crowd. London: Ernest Benn, 1952.
Lewis, B. (1998). Religion and assassination in the Middle East. In: C. Liebman (Ed.), Political assassination: The murder of Rabin and political assassinations in the Middle East. Tel Aviv: Am Oved (Hebrew).
Little, M. (1991). On Basic Unity (Letter to the Editor). International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 72:364.
Ravitzky, A. (1986). The roots of Kahanism: Consciousness and political reality. Jerusalem: Shazar Library, Hebrew University.
Reich, W. (1945). Character analysis. New York: Touchstone, 1972.
Reik, T. (1951). Dogma and compulsion. New York: International Universities Press.
Rieber, R.W. & Kelly, R. J. (1991). Substance and shadow: Images of the enemy. In: R.W. Rieber (Ed.), The psychology of war and peace. New York: Plenum Press.
Robins, R. S. & Post, J.M. (1997). Political paranoia: The psychopolitics of hatred. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Sass, L.A. (1992). Madness and modernism. New York: Basic.
Schneider, S. (1998). Peace and paranoia. In: J. H. Berke, S. Pierides, A. Sabbadini & S. Schneider (Eds.), Even paranoids have enemies: New perspectives on paranoia and persecution. London: Routledge.
Schneider, S. (1993). Group-analytic psychotherapy under threat of war: The Gulf Crisis.” Group Analysis, 26:99–108.
Schneider, S. (1987). Psychotherapy and social work training: Individual differences. Jewish Social Work Forum, 23: 38–48.
Schoenewolf, G. (1991). The art of hating. Northvale, New Jersey: Jason Aronson.
Soloveitchik, J.B. (1965). The lonely man of faith. Tradition, 7:5–65.
Soloveitchik, J.B. (1992). Divrei Hashkafa. Jerusalem: World Zionist Congress (Hebrew).
Suttie, I.D. (1960). The origins of love and hate. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin.
Volkan, V. (1988). The need to have enemies and allies. Northvale, New Jersey: Jason Aronson.
Wynne, L. C. (1965). Some indications and contraindications for exploratory family therapy. In: I. Boszormenyi-Nagy & J. L. Framo (Eds.), Intensive family therapy: theoretical and practical aspects. New York: Harper & Row.
Zilboorg, G. (1959). Freud and religion. Westminster, Maryland: Newman Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schneider, S. Fundamentalism and Paranoia in Groups and Society. Group 26, 17–27 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015418511064
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015418511064