Russians Opposed to Putin’s War in Ukraine Nevertheless Angry about Ukrainian Attacks on Russian Territory and May Become More Radicalized in Their Views, Psychologist Says

 Paul Goble

            Staunton, June 22 – Russians opposed to Putin’s war in Ukraine are nonetheless angry about Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory, a combination of views that may lead some to change their position on the war itself or cause others to become even more radicalized, according to Moscow clinical psychologist Anna Zamornikova.

            Many supporters of the war are counting on its opponents to change their position now that Russian territory has been attacked. Some may, the psychologist says; but equally many may radicalize their views  about the war, concluding that Russia itself is to blame (semnasem.org/articles/2023/06/21/vnutrennyaya-dihotomiya-vo-vremya-vojny).

            In her view, such radicalization like any other will represent “an attempt to simplify reality” rather than to recognize all its complexities and contradictions, an attempt that reflects the evolutionary history of man and the need for people to make quick decisions to protect themselves, decisions that are made in the same part of the brain now as in millenia long past.