A reflection on psychological explanations in the formation process of the Islamic revolution

Abstract

Due to the formation of some theories explaining the revolution in specific social conditions, some of these theories are unable to answer the reason for the revolution and explain it precisely. Considering that four decades have passed since the Islamic revolution as one of the most important phenomena of the 20th century, the causes and factors and explanatory approaches of this revolution are still discussed among many experts. Accordingly, in the present study, the psychological explanation as one of the existing explanations that includes the theories of suppression of instincts, increasing expectations and relative deprivation is examined in the form of a theoretical framework, and it is measured, evaluated and criticized in the Islamic Revolution of Iran. Based on this, the main question of the article is whether psychological explanations are capable of analyzing the Islamic revolution. After applying the aforementioned theories based on descriptive and analytical qualitative method and using the fishing tool, the findings of the article show that based on the common implications, the most important causes of the ineffectiveness of psychological explanation in fully explaining the causes of the Islamic revolution can be mentioned as follows: Inattention to cultural approaches, lack of attention to the social and political structure of Iranian society and the leadership role of Hazrat Imam Khomeini (RA).