How the Brain Works The Facts Visually Explained by DK (z-lib.org)

158 159

OUT

CO

M

ES

PRO

CE

SS

CORE

BE

LI

EF

WHY DO SOME

PEOPLE HAVE

EXTREME BELIEFS?

People with extreme beliefs

may not transition easily

from one concept to

another—a way of thinking

known as cognitive

inflexibility.

The layers of belief

The deepest layer of beliefs, core beliefs, are the

principles that guide our actions (processes). It is our

actions that then determine what our outcomes are.

When we are looking to make changes in our life, we

often focus on outcomes as these are the easiest to

change in the short term. However, to foster long-

lasting change, we need to change our habits, and

to do this, we may need to examine our core beliefs.

There are three types of beliefs: factual, preference, and

ideology. If two people are debating factual beliefs, only

one of them can be right, whereas both people can be

right in the case of preference. Ideological beliefs draw

elements from both fact and preference. Preschoolers

can differentiate between these types of beliefs and

recognize that, in some cases, two people can be right.

REASONING BELIEFS

Core beliefs

Your core beliefs are intertwined with

how you view yourself and the world

around you and are therefore the most

tightly held and inflexible.

2 + 2 = 4

FACTUAL

Orange is the

prettiest color

PREFERENCE

There is only

one God

IDEOLOGY

There is

no God

IDEOLOGY

2 + 2 = 5

FACTUAL

Green is the

prettiest color

PREFERENCE

Supernatural explanation

As well as spotting patterns,

the human brain favors intention over

randomness. The idea that lightning was

intentionally wielded by gods to punish bad

behavior was therefore more satisfying than

it being a random natural event.

3

CORE BELIEFS

ARE FORMED BY

AROUND AGE 7

US_158-159_Belief.indd 159 20/09/2019 13:05