We human beings like to think that the beliefs we hold are coherent, logical, and consistent. But our minds play tricks on us. We know from psychological research that people often hold views that are contradictory – and sometimes they refuse to change their opinions even when there is clear evidence of these contradictions. For example, someone may consider themself a great lover of animals while still insisting on having meat every day. Somebody else may cherish tolerance as a key value – but turn out to be very intolerant when it comes to discussing certain topics. Let’s be honest: We probably all hold some contradictory beliefs.

But could it be that these contradictions are not just simply mistaken ideas but rather a reflection of some fundamental mechanisms underlying the way we think? This is what a new research group wants to find out as part of a Special Research Area project. An interdisciplinary team of researchers from the fields of psychology, cognitive science, linguistics, and economics is investigating the interplay between core beliefs, which are deeply rooted in our personal identity, and evidence-based beliefs, which are shaped by experience and reason.

Susann Fiedler, head of the Institute for Cognition & Behavior at WU, is one of the researchers involved in the project. “Our beliefs are not just the result of the information available to us or any logical conclusions we draw – they are deeply rooted in our emotions and our identity,” she explains, outlining the central hypothesis of the research project.

Some beliefs define who we are and what is important to us – these are called core beliefs. They are emotionally charged and particularly resistant to new information. Derived beliefs, on the other hand, including for example opinions based on arguments or conclusions, are more flexible – but they are still influenced by our core beliefs. “With our research, we want to investigate systematically how these two levels work together – and why they sometimes clash,” says Susann Fiedler.

Beliefs and their consequences

The researchers want to come up with a comprehensive model that explains how belief systems develop, how they are organized, and how they change. The key questions to be addressed include looking at how children develop their first core beliefs and how language and social interactions influence our beliefs. Finally, the political and economic consequences of contradictory beliefs will be examined as well.

This project is one of three new Special Research Areas funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) that aim to create excellent research networks. The Special Research Area “Why Do Coherent Belief Systems Tolerate Incoherence?” is based at the Central European University (CEU) and WU Vienna and will be launched in 2025. It will be coordinated by Agnes Melinda Kovács, a cognitive scientist from CEU.

“Our aim is not only to better understand the mechanisms behind people’s beliefs but also to develop practical solutions,” says Susann Fiedler. “In the course of the project, we plan to test specific interventions designed to counteract misinformation, reduce polarization, and promote social dialogue,” she points out.