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Csepeli, György
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2 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
György Csepeli explains Hungary's culture of failure
The renowned social psychologist György Csepeli reflects in the monthly Kritika on Hungary's special relation with failure: "Hungary's mentality is defined by defeat. There is no situation which is not permeated through and through by future, past or present failure. Not that one can entirely ban failure from life, given that death constantly casts its shadow over any sense of success - not to mention things like accidents, disasters, diseases and other sources of misery. But Hungarians' relationship with failure is special in that it excludes any joy at success. ... On the contrary, Hungarians experience failure as a source of joy. True, they won't admit this, not even to themselves. ... In the eyes of the Hungarian joy is a worthless, even vulgar feeling. You can live much better with grief, sublime sorrow, tragic pessimism and doom because then you have nothing to lose."
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More from the press review on the subject » Weltanschauung, » Hungary
György Csepeli on the roots of the prejudices towards Roma
In the left-leaning daily Népszava social psychologist György Csepeli reflects on the roots of the prejudices towards the Roma in the Hungarian majority society . "Science studies these hate-filled prejudices because they cause wars, genocide, pogroms, the discrimination that poisons everyday life as well as attacks and murders. … The minority always defines itself in terms of the majority. The very word invokes inadequacy because of its associations with the terms 'reduced', 'less' and 'substandard'. Belonging to the minority as opposed to belonging to the majority is therefore a handicap from the very start. … The image the majority society has of the Roma has always been based on their appearance [skin colour], their clothing, their language, their lifestyle and their name. These points of differentiation have been compounded by stereotypical characterisations. These are nurtured by behaviour patterns that run counter to the norms of the majority society. … The Nomadic life ascribed to Roma and the freedom, lack of restraint and unruliness associated with this life trigger a strong sense of counter-identification among non-Roma."
» more information (external link, Hungarian)
More from the press review on the subject » Integration, » Minorities, » Hungary
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