1.5 Factors that Influence Beliefs and Values



Your beliefs and values, based on individualism and/or collectivism, connect to ideologies. Ideologies are systems of thought that try to explain

  • how the social world works

  • how we should live together

  • how we should treat each other

  • why we should or should not care about society and others

Your beliefs about human nature and the world you live in affect the way you feel about society. Society is organized in such a way that it reflects the beliefs of its people and helps them to attain their goals. These beliefs and goals together are commonly thought of as an ideology. All the world's political and economic systems are explained and justified through the perspective of ideology.

How people see the world around them is shaped by various factors that guide their actions and opinions. As a result, many people believe the world is a good place to live, but others believe that the world is in need of great change. These factors support our beliefs about the nature of human beings. Are people peaceful by nature, or are people generally aggressive? The social, economic, and political conditions where you live, as well as your family's position within society, influence your views in relation to this question.


Read Page 10 in your textbook, Understanding of Ideologies. This page will further your understanding of the factors that influence beliefs and values.
You should make notes, either on paper or on your computer, about what you have read.  You may want to read the tutorial How to Make Notes.  When you are finished the tutorial, return here to continue this unit.


What is your worldview? What are the factors that influence your beliefs and values?
Explore the diagram below to understand the factors that ins. Click on each yellow box for more information.