Self-sacrifice is ... The causes and main types of self-sacrifice

Self-sacrifice ... What associations does this word bring to you? Certainly, self-denial for the sake of a high ideal, heroism, saving lives and standing on the guard of moral values, altruism and nobility. It's difficult to argue with this. But is self-sacrifice always a sincere return, can it be called morality and greatness of the soul? Or is this a false and worthless chivalry? Let's try to understand.

Slavic mentality

The great writer and honorary academician Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, who lived in the XIX century, once said that self-sacrifice is the most offensive form of selfishness. Being a wise philosopher, he knew what he was talking about. Tolstoi paid attention to the Slavic mentality: since birth, in each of us, the desire to devote his life to higher goals has been laid. By nature we are not individualists. In addition, Slavic countries are encouraged and educated from childhood aspiration to sacrifice themselves: for the benefit of the neighbor, homeland, ideas.

It is clear that self-sacrifice during the war is justified. If it were not for the exploits of our grandfathers during the Second World War, it is not known what problems and troubles would await our nation. As for self-sacrifice for the sake of a loved one, many also consider him a sign of a good tone. About the children can not even remember: there is an opinion that a woman is simply obliged to put her life on the altar of children's whims and desires. Although how you can grow happy, knowing that someone next to you must suffer from this.

The basis of self-sacrifice

It is believed that the foundation of this trait of a person's character, behavior and belief is love. A pier, a deep feeling pushes us to exploits: I want to devote myself free of charge to the second half, to children, and in some cases even to colleagues and the beloved cause as a whole. But psychologists say that this is a myth. The problem of self-sacrifice is that its basis is absolutely unattractive - it is uncertainty and fear.

Doubtful, a person does not feel within himself the strength, power, firmness. Such an individual thinks that in itself he is not capable of deserving deeds, therefore he begins to live by the achievements and problems of other people. In addition, he is sure that, being a failure, there should not even be a condescension for society. In the end, he begins to fight for the location of relatives, while getting their sleeves a trump card - self-sacrifice, which becomes an instrument of manipulation. Fear arises from fear of losing a loved one.

Selfishness is the starting point

The saddest thing about this story is that the further you go deeper into the labyrinth of self-sacrifice, the worse for you. The consequences can even be tragic. Look around - there are a lot of examples around: grown-up children, strongly guarded by parents, do not call them for months, and wives who abandoned their careers and communicate with their friends for the sake of caring for their loved ones remain abandoned husbands or end their lives betraying betrayals. Do not hurry to brand traitors, because in the current situation, only you are to blame.

In ingratitude of loved ones lies the main problem of self-sacrifice. Arguments that you hear from people will be undeniable: "Who asked you?" And they will be right. Nobody begged you to give up your own interests and desires, you made the choice yourself. Accusing, for example, a child in the impossibility of establishing a personal life because of eternal care for him, think about whether you are shifting your responsibility for your own mistakes and failures in relations with representatives of the opposite sex. That's why self-sacrifice is pure selfishness. After all, a person acts in a way that is convenient and profitable for him, without thinking about whether it is necessary for his relatives.

Evil generation

If self-sacrifice occurs at the level of a single family or collective, its destructive scales are not as global. When the interests of a huge power, people or a large group of people are affected, the consequences can be very unfavorable. The problem of self-sacrifice, whose arguments are aimed at protecting and protecting an object, often form the basis of terrorism. After all, those who undermine themselves and the hostages sincerely believe that they die for the good of religion.

Very clearly and clearly similar logic is traced in the acts of terrorists that profess Islam. Members of Hamas or Hezbollah, for example, killing hundreds of people, do not feel guilty. They say they are doing a sacrificial act, for which they will be rewarded in the next life. It is only from this example that we can conclude that self-sacrifice is not always a good thing. Sometimes it can lead to tragic events and a lot of innocent victims.

Types of self-sacrifice

Many psychologists are sure that not every person is capable of such an act. According to some scientists, inheritance is transmitted self-sacrifice. This means that the desire to devote life to other people is laid down at the genetic level. He brings his contribution and upbringing: a child who grew up in a family, where the mother gives the last money to charity, believes that this pattern of behavior is correct, since he did not come across the opposite. Forms a worldview and collective zombies, which are often traced in religious sects or other communities.

Regardless of the source, self-sacrifice is conscious and one that works on a subconscious level. The first is to understand the person's sacrifice and the price for it, the meaning and ultimate goal. The soldier, falling chest on the enemy pillbox, in the last seconds of life knows that his act saves comrades from certain death. Such self-sacrifice is worthy of respect, it is truly heroic. As for the unconscious, these are the situations that we mentioned. Unjustified, self-sacrificing nobody needs to become a trap, where a person who tries to manipulate his behavior and dreams to stop the development of an individual at a comfortable level for him tightens the person.

Self-sacrifice in the literature

Many Russian writers, being true Slavs, often touch upon this topic in their works. Examples of self-sacrifice are traced, for example, in the work of Dostoevsky. The heroines of his novel "Crime and Punishment" Sonechka Marmeladova and Dunya Raskolnikov sacrifice themselves for the sake of dear people. The first trades in the body, earning the family for food. She suffers, but she does not even have the right to banal suicide, because her relatives will be left without a piece of bread. The second is going to marry an unloved but rich man, only to help a poor brother.

Maxim Gorky also often described cases of self-sacrifice. For example, in "Old Woman Izergil" his embodiment is Danko. A romantic hero, leading people through the forest, ripped his chest and took out his heart, lighting it like a torch, a path in darkness. Supporters followed him and overcame the difficult road. Danko was killed, but the people quickly forgot their hero. The question arises: was this self-sacrifice necessary? Think about it before you throw your own dreams and aspirations to the feet of another person.