Beliefs

Element IV: The Human Being

An individual's subjective knowledge (beliefs) about something determine his or her attitude toward it. Generally, if most of an individual's beliefs about something are positive, then a positive attitude will develop. The beliefs may originate from a combination of direct experience, second-hand information, and inference. For example, a person might develop a positive attitude toward cigarette smoking because peers praise the experience (second-hand information), because the experience gives a temporary pleasure (direct experience), and because the person wants to appear mature and develops the attitude that smoking is an "adult" activity (inference).

Many attitudes arise early in life and tend to persist or be influential throughout life. They are first learned from one's family, and the learning persists into adulthood. Attitudes do change, however. Among the most important variables in attitude change are the following: personality characteristics; the credibility of the source of different opinions or of information countering the held attitudes; group membership; and personal behavior that is inconsistent with the individual's attitudes.

Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. People have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that disempowers them or empowers them. Choose beliefs that empower you.

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