Integration of Sufi Morals with Freud's Psychoanalysis for Youth Mental Resilience against Digital Radicalism

Abstract

Digital radicalism poses an escalating threat to Indonesian youth, with social media platforms serving as primary vectors for extremist ideology dissemination. This study aims to develop an integrative framework combining akhlak tasawuf (Sufi ethics) with Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory to build mental resilience among Indonesian youth against digital radicalism for the 2026-2030 period. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving 385 university students across five provinces through surveys, supplemented by in-depth interviews with 32 participants and focus group discussions with religious scholars, psychologists, and digital literacy experts. Quantitative analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) revealed that the integration of takhalli (soul purification) with Freudian ego strengthening significantly predicted digital radicalism resistance (β = 0.67, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings demonstrated that tahalli (virtue cultivation) aligned with superego development created robust moral filtering mechanisms against extremist content. The tajalli (spiritual illumination) dimension corresponded with sublimation processes, redirecting aggressive impulses toward constructive spiritual engagement. This research contributes a novel "Sufi-Psychoanalytic Resilience Model" (SPRM) offering theoretical innovation and practical guidelines for educational institutions, policymakers, and religious organizations in countering digital radicalism among Indonesian youth.