“Despite limited knowledge or narrow perspectives, new beliefs are formed depending on pre-existing beliefs to maintain internal consistency with the overall belief system (Tversky & Khaneman, 1974). The development of cognitive biases and heuristics is challenging to prevent— it is a built-in responsive system, akin to the “fight or flight” response, serving as an evolutionary and adaptive feature. These biases operate at a subconscious level, shaping beliefs without deliberate volitional control.”
Abstract
Beliefs are fundamental to an individual’s behavior and identity, yet they cannot be picked and chosen by an individual. This paper reviews the role of the individual’s voluntary choice and control in the formation of beliefs. It is concluded that the formation of beliefs, consisting of five main stages (Connors & Halligan 2017), is involuntary. Cognitive biases and heuristics and external influences are innate features of the human mind and the nature of beliefs, rendering extensive control over beliefs impossible. Moreover, conscious awareness of involuntary influences is not thorough and does not induce will or control over changing and interfering with the process of belief formation. Though the limitations of the mind and the inability for control seems unfavorable and undesirable, developing an open and adaptive mindset proves to be even more significant. Acknowledging the involuntary nature of beliefs cultivates a perspective that allows for effective examination upon the execution and application of beliefs.