Why Do People Believe What They Believe?

Why do so may people around the world have such different beliefs about things like religion, morality, parenting, marriage, and taste in music? Perhaps more applicably, why do people have such strong differing beliefs that they are willing to mock, ridicule, or even kill and go to war with those holding to differing beliefs? This has been a serious issue throughout history. However, people seem to continually focus solely on these differences themselves, rather than trying to find the root cause of why people think and behave differently. Sociology provides a platform on which to understand these differences. 

One of the most fundamental concepts in sociology is the idea of socialization. Socialization essentially describes the process by which people come to believe what they believe and learn to interact with and think about the world around them. Early twentieth century sociologist, George Herbert Mead, argued that a person’s “self” only develops through interaction with other people. This usually begins within the family. Different families obviously believe different things and then impart many of their beliefs to their kids. This includes everything from religious beliefs to knowing how to behave at a funeral. These ideas become so ingrained in the person’s understanding of the world around them that any idea that deviates significantly from their own may be perceived by the individual as threatening their way of life. If these feelings are strong enough it can drive different people to mocking, violence, and even national wars based on these competing ideologies. 

So, before you judge people’s convictions too harshly, take a step back and examine the bigger sociological forces that may cause someone to think and behave differently from yourself. Understand the context in which that person was brought up, what influences shaped their lives and their ideas and even if you disagree with them over an issue, still extend grace to that person and reason with them with an understanding of their background in mind.