Verbal Aggression as an Esthetics and Ritual of Identity

The author is concerned with a high level of aggression in the contemporary society. In this article he studies the nature of the “verbal aggression” as an ideology of identification. The article analyses political discourse in modern periodicals using descriptive and analytical methods. The author argues that on the one hand, verbal aggression functions as a psychological protection from emotional discomfort caused by unsuccessful communication. On the other hand, insulting and expressing negative evaluations resembles a ritual, which is based on symbolism consisting of ideas, thoughts and actions. This is not merely a human psyche’s impulsive reaction, but it can also be a purposeful activity. The latter helps invective to fulfill its utilitarian function: to insult someone in order to benefit from it. Depending on the objectives of the participants of the conflict, the author singles out “an invective ritual of alienation” and “a ritual of complicity (loyalty)”. With the “ritual of alienation”, speakers formalize their intention to name things which are spiritually strange to them. The “ritual of complicity” identifies the unity of the communicants, whether its genuine or false. Both types of rituals have properties which reflect ideological climate in the community at a certain time. The author comes to the conclusion that identifying someone as “us” or “them” we can create two opposing groups in reality. Accumulating formalized invective rituals in a community advances a high level of aggression especially in the age of postmodern and post-truth, when social discourse is based on emotions and people commonly interpret reality through the prism of their own personality. People often consider foul language a magic force. It seems, that they subconsciously dodge moral responsibility for the consequences of the invective act, believing that it’s not their choice.