The Motivation of Radicalism

Radicalism arises through the blocking of some desire and shows itself in an attempt to change the environment. When an individual is confronted with the necessity of readjusting himself to his environment he may either modify his desires and accept the situation or he may make an attack upon the en...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychological review 1921-07, Vol.28 (4), p.280-300
Main Author: Wolfe, A. B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Environment
Human
Liberalism
Motivation
Psychosocial Readjustment
Repression (Defense Mechanism)
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Summary:Radicalism arises through the blocking of some desire and shows itself in an attempt to change the environment. When an individual is confronted with the necessity of readjusting himself to his environment he may either modify his desires and accept the situation or he may make an attack upon the environment.Readjustment may take place through one of three processes: (1) Repression, which is not likely to produce radical attitudes. (2) Transference and substitution. The individual may engage in some radical movement which symbolically represents the repressed desire. (3) Reinforcement, through attention to the obstacles. This is the center of radical motivation and it gives the drive and the consistency to radical movements.It should be noted also that there are positive instincts which motivate innovators. From Psych Bulletin 18:12:00698.
ISSN:0033-295X
1939-1471
DOI:10.1037/h0074280