Barboskin, be a man: what games are not necessary for a child
Lawmakers intend to ban the dissemination of information promoting the ideology of dehumanization among children. The new initiative, even at the discussion stage, causes a lot of controversy in the Internet space. Experts advise not to take the problem in a simplistic way. What is dehumanization, whether your favorite cartoons with animals and fairy—tale characters at matinees will be banned - in the Izvestia article.
Something human
Tatiana Butskaya, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee for Family Protection, informed the media about the new initiative. It is assumed that information (in particular games) that promotes the rejection of biological and social affiliation, human identity, while denying natural and legal norms, will be banned.
The draft law caused heated discussions at the initial stage. Internet users believe that the ban will include, in particular, their favorite cartoons, the characters of which are animals that behave like humans. Russians are also afraid for their favorite New Year's Eve events with dressing up as fabulous animals. However, the parliamentarians assure that the document will not affect theatrical productions, films and matinees, where it is a question of the reincarnation of children. The problem is much deeper and more complicated — it doesn't come down to dressing up as bunnies and seals.
The psychiatric and drug treatment clinic of Dr. Isaev noted that first of all it is necessary to deal with the term "dehumanization".
— In psychiatry, the term "dehumanization" (dehumanization) is not a clinical diagnosis, but is used to describe processes in which a person's perception of their own or someone else's human essence is distorted, — says the head of the clinic, psychiatrist, narcologist Ruslan Isaev. — This can manifest itself, for example, in severe mental disorders with a violation of identity — in the form of depersonalization, derealization or psychotic experiences, when a person may feel inanimate, artificial or unreal.
According to Isaev, on a psychological level, dehumanization is also described as a way of depersonalizing another, when one person or group denies another basic human qualities.: the ability to empathize, morally, and think.
— Such processes often accompany aggression, violence and traumatization. In the context of child development, it is most appropriate to talk not about dehumanization, but about the formation and strengthening of identity — the ability to feel oneself, to feel the boundaries of one's self and to realize one's belonging to the human community," the psychiatrist summarizes.
Empathy and antipathy
Dehumanization of personality, or dehumanization, from the point of view of psychology affects the depersonalization of people, that is, it actually equates them to impersonal objects devoid of human properties and traits, explains Anna Guseva, a practicing psychologist.
— If we turn to world history, this phenomenon has been actively applied to a group of people so that these people are no longer perceived as individuals, — explains Guseva. — This is how colonization took place, in which entire nations were subjugated and exploited. This is how the fascists acted — they gave concentration camp prisoners only numbers, depriving them of their names. After such an amputation of the personality, the person forgot who he was. And it was easy enough to deal with him, because he was already perceived as an impersonal object.
Depersonalization implies the process of reducing or erasing the distinctive human characteristics, identity, and characteristics of a person or group, the psychologist emphasizes. This happens when people are looked at or treated as objects or obstacles, devoid of emotions, thoughts, and personality. According to Anna Guseva, the most striking example is stereotyping.
— This is one of the most common manifestations of dehumanization. Classifying other people using stereotypes overly simplifies a complex person, reducing him to a set of predefined characteristics. The simplest example is the claim that blondes can't be smart, and people with many children live for benefits," Guseva comments.
The psychologist believes that when people are perceived in such a simplistic way, they become vulnerable to prejudice, inequality and abuse. And if such an attitude is directed at themselves, then they subconsciously do not consider it necessary to observe any rules and norms accepted in human society.
—In extreme cases, dehumanization leads to acts of violence,— explains Anna Guseva. — In addition, people experiencing dehumanization and dehumanization begin to suffer from feelings of isolation and low self-esteem, and they develop mental health problems.
Staying human and seeing people in others helps us, in particular, empathy — the ability to understand and share feelings and emotions, to recognize the condition of another person. That is, to see human qualities and traits in other people.
A dangerous game
According to the psychologist, computer games should come to the attention of regulatory authorities first of all. The obvious signs that such leisure leads to dehumanization are the loss of time, the formation of dependence and the loss of empathy towards real people, which leads to terrible tragedies. For example, in 2011, in the Volgograd region, a 16-year-old gambling addict hacked his mother to death after his computer broke down. He actually perceived a loved one as a monster that had to be destroyed. In 2022, in the Rostov region, a 17-year-old teenager lost track of time as he immersed himself in a virtual game. When his mother demanded that he go to bed, the guy stabbed her. It is noteworthy that, having inflicted several blows on the parent, the teenager returned to the computer and continued the game. And here is the most recent example of dehumanization — in Tatarstan on August 2, 2005, an 11-year-old girl stabbed her brother with a kitchen knife and seriously injured her grandmother after making a remark about an online game. This was reported in the investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the republic, the case is under the control of the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Alexander Bastrykin.
— Some games and films lead to a change in the values of cultural orientation and historical identity. One of the most striking examples is the popular TV series "The Squid Game", which many teenagers are fond of," comments Anna Guseva.
From the point of view of a psychologist, dolls resembling monsters, two—headed, multi-armed with severed limbs, have no place on the shelves of children's stores. Such toys, according to the expert, also contribute to dehumanization. When children get carried away with games or toys that negate human traits, their consciousness gets trapped, says Anna Guseva.
— It is very important now to take control of information that promotes the rejection of biological and social affiliation, — says Guseva. — At the same time, we really need to take into account that animal games, as well as cartoons in which animals are perceived as people, do not harm the child's psyche if you do not go beyond these hobbies.
Will quadrobers be banned
Recall that the deputies intended to take serious measures against the so-called quadrobers. But over time, interest in this entertainment among Russian teenagers has actually faded away, it has not been instilled in the mass consciousness.
— The so-called quadrobers are one of the forms of teenage subcultures in which children try on images of non-humans (animals, cyborgs, etc.), often accompanied by role—playing games, masks, fictitious names and habits, - explains Ruslan Isaev. — Such phenomena have been known to psychology for a long time and are not considered pathology in themselves. It's a form of role-playing, experimenting with the boundaries of identity, and responding to the anxiety of growing up.
The danger may arise not from the game itself, but from the context, the psychiatrist warns. For example, if a teenager closes up, loses contact with reality, goes into isolation, refuses to communicate, study and basic self-care. But even in such cases, it is important not to forbid, but to understand what exactly is behind such behavior: loneliness, trauma, anxiety, or age-related search for belonging. The adolescent psyche is sensitive to rejection and direct suppression will only increase internal conflict, Ruslan Isaev emphasizes.
As for cartoons in which animals play the role of people, they will not be touched for well-defined reasons.
— Cartoons where animals are endowed with human features (anthropomorphism) are a continuation of a long—standing tradition of world culture: from folk tales and fables to "Nu, Pogodi!", "The Lion King" and "Zveropolis". Through such images, a child learns to recognize emotions, understand moral principles, and empathize. This is a form of metaphor, not a rejection of human identity," says the psychiatrist.
Ruslan Isaev notes that psychologically, children easily distinguish between the conventions of the image.: they understand that, for example, Barboskins are not real dogs, but heroes who look like people.
— It's not the form that matters, but the content.: what translates the plot, what values it conveys, how the characters develop," the psychiatrist continues. — If such stories emphasize family, care, and responsibility, it works for development, not the destruction of identity.
From Anna Guseva's point of view, it is easier for children's audiences to perceive the world of adults with their rules through such cartoons. More than one generation has grown up watching cartoons with animal characters.
According to Daniil Petrov, a 15-year-old ninth grader, it makes no sense to look for a double bottom in everything.
— Take, for example, the poem by Agniya Barto: "They dropped the bear on the floor. They tore off the bear's paw. I won't leave him anyway, because he's good." The teddy bear will be saved — this is a positive moment. But people dropped it too. Don't ban nursery rhymes after that. You just have to draw the right conclusions," says Daniel.
People and animals
Adult users have already noticed that there are sometimes stories on the Internet in which animals invented by AI are presented as more humane than humans. For example, a cartoon in which a child insults an animal sitting in a zoo cage, and a kitten comforts it and releases it into the wild, caused a mixed reaction. Representatives of the older generation consider it incorrect to contrast humans and animals in this way. Psychiatrist Ruslan Isaev believes that this video, like many other visual stories, is based on emotional drama: the juxtaposition of victim and aggressor, the redemption of injustice, the union of the weak.
— It shows animals as feeling, sympathetic, capable of action. This is not necessarily "propaganda" of something, but rather an emotional response to the topic of empathy and injustice, says Ruslan Isaev.
At the same time, the psychiatrist emphasizes that it is important for the child to discuss what he saw. It's good if an adult helps a minor comprehend the plot, explains that animals need not just freedom, but safety; that not all people are cruel, and reality is much more complicated than in the plot. With this kind of "analysis", such stories will contribute to emotional development.
— But if such images are replicated without explanation, they can really form a simplified perception: "people are bad, animals are good." And this can distort the social picture," the psychiatrist warns.
Ruslan Isaev draws attention to the fact that it is important for a child to realize that he is a human being and this is a value.
"Human consciousness, speech, and the ability to make moral choices, empathy, and creativity are unique," says the psychiatrist. — Animals deserve respect and care, but they live by different laws. The human world includes responsibility, norms, and the ability to think critically.
In education, the psychiatrist advises not to contrast man and animal, but to teach to see that there are cruel and kind deeds, there are sufferers and those who are able to help — and all this exists both among people and in images inspired by the animal world. Respect for all living things does not contradict the understanding of one's own identity and human value, the expert emphasizes.
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