“Our Beliefs“
Our beliefs reassure us, prevent us from constantly reconsidering everything, provide us with our worldview, shape our personality and we always act according to them. Our beliefs also shape our social bonds. Groups or communities are most often formed around beliefs. Some even bear the name of the belief that created them, such as religions or political parties. Finally, if a member of the community no longer believes in the beliefs of his group, he will have to abandon it either on his own or through rejection by others.
We are very firmly attached to our beliefs and will do everything to defend them when others question them. If this happens, we first use all the arguments at our disposal to convince the other person. Then, if that is not enough or if we are confronted with our contradictions, anger takes over. This takes the form of contempt or violence towards our opponent.
We have all been at a family dinner that ended badly because political issues were raised. We have seen how our beliefs or convictions can change our behavior. A person who is usually calm and polite suddenly becomes aggressive when he runs out of arguments and feels that he is losing the game. The example of the family dinner is a mild form of this phenomenon, since human beings can kill to defend their beliefs.
Now, as we have seen, conviction is nothing more than a belief about something that we cannot prove. There is no conviction when there is formal proof. However, if doubt remains, then there is conviction, and this will eliminate doubt. Creating a certainty is therefore not very complicated. You have to provide the right arguments. If a story sounds plausible and provides evidence of certain elements that help make it credible, the person will generally believe. This is called the art of lying.
Other factors make it easier for us to believe. For example, if many people, or someone who inspires trust or respect, or a friend, a doctor, an expert, etc. say that they believe the same story, then we will believe much more quickly. Thus, with the help of accomplices and appropriate means, it is very easy to ignite a belief in a population. The more people believe or claim to believe, the more the belief will spread. Add to this a few personalities willing to play along, and the matter is settled. The belief will then influence the behavior of each individual in the desired direction without any resistance.
Finally, it will be difficult to turn back time. Indeed, as we have seen, we are very attached to our beliefs. Our beliefs hold us together with two strong bonds. The first is social, because our beliefs define our membership groups. The second is selfish, because we build our personality through our beliefs. These two strong bonds make our beliefs very persistent.
“Human being is a credulous animal and must believe something. In the absence of good reasons to believe, he will be content with bad ones.”
Bertrand Russel
Our ability to believe is now widely exploited in our society, and the techniques for persuading us have also evolved significantly in recent decades. There is a growing body of research in marketing, but also in personnel management and politics.
The authoritarian department head who used to lead his team with an iron fist has now been replaced by the dynamic, friendly-looking executive who knows how to handle with perfection all the methods of persuasion taught in business schools. The President of the Republic, who was once an inaccessible figure, is now approachable. He also does not miss an opportunity to mingle with the crowd.
Thirty years ago, television news presenters such as Roger Gicquel or Yves Mourousi knew how to remain neutral in the face of current events. Today, our news stars are very smiley. Depending on the subject, they know how to easily adopt a serious, indignant, mocking or, on the contrary, approving or even enthusiastic tone. The sympathy and the emotions that are expressed or evoked are basic levers of persuasion. Thus, everyone has become very sympathetic and passionate.
We have never believed as much as we do today, because we are inundated with information that would be impossible to verify. Thus, we rely on experts, journalists, politicians, etc. and we choose our beliefs from the few arguments that are presented to us. All of these, of course, were developed to show us the right direction. Even the alternative media work in the same way, because today honesty no longer exists in communication, if it ever existed. The only goal is to convince in order to influence listeners or readers.
Thus, those who create a large community on social networks are not recognized as journalists, columnists or comedians, but as influencers, because this is their primary function.
They are paid by brands, associations or political parties to influence their community in the desired direction. Our brains have adapted and now it takes very little time to form a belief. A little evidence is enough for this, and the more we can form an opinion, the more satisfied we are. The media has managed to addict us, and now we are constantly in search of the slightest information to form our opinion. This vicious circle has distanced us from personal reflection, which no longer has a place in this process.
This has become the job of journalists and experts invited to TV shows, politicians or influencers, who are now happy to think for us.
