Behavioral Extremism: The Need to Balance Beliefs and Apathy

Jude Terna Ayua

There are two extremes in society: extremist adherence and apathy. Both are evils. They are the reasons for hatred, wars, and chaos in the world today.

Adherents hold  religious beliefs or ideologies. There are adherents who take their beliefs to extremes, sometimes forcing them on people. Extremists hate those who do not share or accept their belief and could end one’s life for it.

Apathists distance themselves from religious beliefs or ideologies. To an extent, they reject truths in any belief or ideology—even truths they know are undeniable. Apathists sometimes go beyond rejecting the truth and attack innocent people for believing in the truth.

Extremists and apathists are two edges of the same sword: Both are extremists. Religious or ideological extremists force people to accept their beliefs, while extremist-apathists reject the truth and sometimes force people against it. For example, extremism is one of the reasons for religious violence. It is also the reason people attack other innocent people whose beliefs or practices do not harm them in any way.

Apart from religion and ideology, extremist and apathist tendencies also apply to personal behavior and relationships. 

Are you an adherent or an apathist? Could you be an extremist? Maybe these terms sound complex and you may not relate to either one. However, consider them in simple terms using everyday language:

• Extremist-adherent: Overdoer. I-too-know. By-fire-by-force.
• Extremist-apathist: I-don’t-care. No-no. Keep off.

Applying the attitudes above to your day-to-day affairs and relationship with people,  reflect on these questions: During conversations and arguments, do you force your ideas on people? Do you admit your mistakes, errors, or weaknesses and accept corrections? Do you avoid or attack people whose opinions do not align with yours?

An example of how someone may display extremist behavior: A is used to talking aloud and causing discomfort to people around. B politely informs A about it, advising A to consider talking with a low voice. Instead of admitting talking aloud as a weakness and improving, A decides that it is best to stop talking completely. To A, “If I can’t talk aloud, I won’t talk at all.”

In this example, A displayed extremist behavior by refusing to learn to talk the normal way people do. A seems to be an apathist, refusing to accept truth and taking correction. There are people who behave like A. They hate correction and take it as an offense.

Another example: C is a big fan of a football player and believes that the player is the best among other players. In a conversation with D, C tries to convince D about this ‘best player.’ D refuses to accept C’s position and presents evidence to prove otherwise. C insists, rejecting D’s position. An argument ensues, then a fight, and C hits D badly.

In this example, C is an extremist who must win against D to prove a point. To C, D must accept the ‘truth’ by force. 

Behavioral extremism is an evil in society which has several consequences. It impacts people’s relationships—including friendship, marriage, mentorship, and more—negatively, sometimes to their detriment. A marriage can break up if the spouses insist on winning every argument or refuse to take correction. An employee may lose his or her job if he or she consistently goes to work late after repeated warnings. An employer may lose a valuable employee by insisting on a traditional work approach that discomforts the employee.

You could be displaying behavioral extremism without knowing it. If you don’t realize and stop it, it may ruin your relationships among other consequences. To break from behavioral extremism, you must learn to respect people’s perspectives, choices, or opinions; admit your mistakes or weaknesses, and accept correction.

There is a need to balance between adherence and apathy to beliefs or ideologies. For example, to avoid extremism, adherents can express their beliefs without forcing them on people, and apathists can distance themselves from beliefs without attacking those who believe. Where there is a balance, there will not be any extremism.