How important is understanding a belief system political, philosophical and/or RELIGIOUS in understanding motivation?

Most people don't understand anything. Americans think they are free, but any question provokes the response "There oughta be a law!" They see nothing odd in having to get permission from the government to build a fence around their own property, or to drive a car, or even to leave their parent's household before age 18.

We have a bazillion names for political beliefs and no idea what any of them actually mean. I once was chatting with a young man and he suddenly said "You're a libertarian!" I had never heard the word so I asked him what it meant. He could not explain, but whatever it meant, by god I was one!

We have people who poo-poo socialism with no idea what that is. They think Denmark has a great way to run their country and Venezuela is dying but they don't realize both use the socialist system.

Religious understanding is even worse. The average Christian has no clue about what he is supposed to believe and isn't even sure if he qualifies to be one.

All of the things you mention are key to understanding. Add in such variables as situational decision-making, financial incentive, peer pressures, and emotions, and you’ll get a blueprint of what drives people, in a given moment. This post was edited by Don Barzini at May 29, 2018 9:01 AM MDT

probably pretty important