ABSTRACT
Beliefs (and values) are implicated in all aspects of our lives. Beliefs influence how we attend, interpret, and respond to events and those involved in them, by functioning as “filters,” “frames,” and “guides” (Fives & Buehl, 2012). From the perspective of contemporary analytical philosophy “belief” refers to a mental attitude that some proposition, statement, idea, or fact is true. Beliefs can be both explicitly available for review and reflection and implicitly held and are related to, but distinct from, knowledge (see Schwitzgebel, 2011). Beliefs are the convictions that we generally hold to be true, often without actual proof or evidence. From among the vast array of things individuals believe at any one point in time, only a limited number can be at the fore and available for reflection, thus, we are not necessarily consciously aware of, nor do we actively reflect upon, many of our beliefs.
