The Involuntary Nature of Beliefs

Beliefs are fundamental to an individual’s behavior and identity, yet they cannot be picked and chosen by an individual. This paper reviews the role of the individual’s voluntary choice and control in the formation of beliefs. It is concluded that the formation of beliefs, consisting of five main stages (Connors & Halligan 2017), is involuntary. Cognitive biases and heuristics and external influences are innate features of the human mind and the nature of beliefs, rendering extensive control over beliefs impossible. Moreover, conscious awareness of involuntary influences is not thorough and does not induce will or control over changing and interfering with the process of belief formation. Though the limitations of the mind and the inability for control seems unfavorable and undesirable, developing an open and adaptive mindset proves to be even more significant. Acknowledging the involuntary nature of beliefs cultivates a perspective that allows for effective examination upon the execution and application of beliefs.