Leon Festinger is perhaps best known for the Theory of Cognitive Dissonance, which suggests that when people are induced to behave in ways that are inconsistent with their beliefs, an uncomfortable psychological tension is aroused. This tension will lead people to change their beliefs to fit their actual behavior, rather than the other way around, as popular wisdom may suggest. -wiki
I love what Chris Rock said in the movie "Dogma", "don't have beliefs, people die for them. People kill for them. I think it's better to have ideas. You can change an idea, changing a belief is trickier. "
I have a friend that thinks that particular Leon Festinger observation is hilarious because, he says, it's true. There are gifted adults with deeply held beliefs. It doesn't make one less gifted to align your observations with your beliefs. I don't have beliefs, I have ideas. There's room for all types.
The second half of that Chris Rock movie quote is, "Life should be malleable and progressive; working from idea to idea permits that. Beliefs anchor you to certain points and limit growth; new ideas can't generate. Life becomes stagnant."
That sounds reasonable from "life being malleable" to "permits that", but wrong about the second part "beliefs ... limit... new ideas". Because (see Leon Festinger above). People with beliefs will rework them whenever there's cognitive dissonance between their beliefs and their behavior.
Annette, I hope I don't make you feel lonely by answering your post.
AFAIK I'm not agreeing or disagreeing, just joining the conversation about beliefs, opinions, and cognitive dissonance.
