A political psychological approach to the identity of Malcolm X

Psychological researches on political phenomenon have a long history, but only quite recently, after the 1970s, have they become part of academic courses in a systematic way. It was from then that political psychology began to be recognized as a new science, particularly aiming to examine psychological mechanisms behind political behaviors. The present study seeks to read the autobiography of Malcolm X under the light of political psychology since both traits of political psychology are more attached with the genre of autobiography. Psychological reading of African American political elites could be considered as a crucial matter that could be investigated in Malcolm X's autobiography. On one hand, for political psychologists Freudian ideas are considered to be significant because they left a great influence on the study of elite political behavior and identity. On the other hand, most political scientists use a psychological process to develop new theories illustrating political behavior. The present research endeavors to show that racism and ethnicity in the United States are frequently associated with political inequalities which are so instantly influential on Malcolm X in changing his individual conservative identity and is connected to a radical elitisms and upheaval of the ethnic groups. Besides, the autobiography of Malcolm X embodying the universal theme of self-making also can best be regarded as a literary work which has been created to display the environment and the context in which black Americans were living.