[joerocker]

Originally Posted by BarryRX

Stereotype: To unfairly believe that all people or things with a particular characteristic are the same.

Joe.....you couldn't be more wrong.

Ok...then "typing" is what we do and should do. We see similarities between groups and through experience can predict similar behavior from other members of the same group. Just drop the "stereo", the "unfair" part. Drawing conclusions as to others future actions is a crucial part of maturation and development. Otherwise you keep falling for the same "tricks" over and over. I don't know why "typing" is officially frowned upon. Thieves steal over and over. Pedophiles molest over and over. Other groups have habitual "weaknesses" over and over. Only their actions are deemed "acceptable" and "typing" them verboten.

Originally Posted by PennBF

A good book on this subject is "The Believing Brain from Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies". by Michael Shermer. Not to take away from the Author but an underlying theory is that first the Brain decides what it wants to believe and they goes about the process of developing proof of the belief. That is opposed to first developing proof and then deciding a belief. I think an example of this is that as children we are taught a religion and as we grow we develop support and reasons for our religion. In other words we are first given a belief and then go about proving it is the right belief. Interesting theory?

Originally Posted by gomoho

I would actually take that theory from the book you mention one step further that our brain proceeds to go about either proving or refuting that belief. Otherwise we would grow up accepting and believing everything we are told as children and we don't do that - we question things and come to our own truths.

Michael Shermer also does a newsletter called "sceptic".

Confirmation bias. When you only listen to and accept that which agrees with your current view. If you like something, you only recognize that which is positive towards it. If you don't, you only recognize that which is negative towards it. It's a very common thought process. Everyone does it naturally. You have to go out of your way, feel like you're wasting your time, to listen to the other side. It's a very strong natural tendency.

We are conditioned from infancy to believe this and that. For most, it's only when shown by "authority" that belief is suspended. Many lies DO extend well into adulthood. Those lies are the things "we're not supposed to discuss". Because they (people depending on us believing) don't want us to REALLY examine the issues. It's why we don't discuss religion or politics.

Many continue to carry many childhood beliefs forever.

Originally Posted by PennBF

This is one of those challenging theories. As we grow up and disregard our teaching as children we develop beliefs. Are these beliefs because of full discovery of proofs or at some point do we decide what we believe and then go about prooving it. At every point of our thoughts we decide on a belief and then go about "proving" it. It may come from our parents, our teachers, professors, or just a friend? Is there such a case where the person does extensive research and based on that decides on a position. Probably. but it may be that each point of being convinced the individual is creating proof based on a belief. One illustration is the person who submits they have the "truth" of something. I think the very best illustration of all of this is go to 10 different person(s) who profess their religion is the "truth"...??? I am a religious person but keep a positive eye as to how and why I got there?

IMO, most people believe what they're told. Be it reading, lecture, conversation, whatever. If someone "credible" says it, it's true. I think very few actually "test" what they're told. I'm one of them. Everyone who knows me knows "I'll look it up, I'll check it out". My "big" beliefs all came through my own research. That is why my views on the big things (religion, politics, individual rights, etc.), are not what most people believe. There's a lot of misinformation out there. Misdirection is a better word.

The only "truth" I know is we don't know the truth. Knowing that you can go to 10 different people and get 10 different "truths" about religion, why are you still religious? There are many completely different religions in the world. Within those major religions, there are thousands of different sects. Each professing that they know the truth. My bet, and what I believe is, none of them know "the truth".

Nice discussion...