Worldview: what it is, types, types and their characteristics

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The formation of personality leads to the formation of a worldview, which, in turn, arises in the process of cognition. A person, becoming a person, asks himself a series of questions: “Who am I? What is my place in the world? What is the meaning of existence and how does the universe work? The questions listed above are the path to understanding oneself and the surrounding reality, and the answers to these questions are the path to the formation of a person’s worldview, spirituality, and inner world.

Explanation of the term

We are about to talk about a complex but fundamental aspect of consciousness. To do this, we first identify what self-awareness in general is. It can belong to both a specific individual and the entire society (for example, a people), and also consists of several levels:

1. Elementary (primary ideas about oneself associated with the assessment of others).
2. Deep (more conscious understanding of one’s role in society).
3. The most difficult one.

At the third, most complex stage, a person’s worldview is located - this is the totality of knowledge, beliefs and ideas about oneself, society and the world as a whole. With its help, a person realizes himself as a part of material and spiritual reality through a generalized attitude towards it. It reflects the very essence of the individual, his ideas, views, thoughts, values, preferences that influence behavior. There is also the concept of “worldview maturity,” which can be seen by the actions of people.

Metaphor

To make things a little easier to understand, I would like to draw an analogy with vision glasses.

• Most people buy glasses made to order, and despite the variety of models, some of which are unique, there is still something in common between them that allows us to understand what kind of item is in front of us. How to celebrate a completely unique design idea.
• One brand's products will have at least one similar feature by which it can be easily identified.
• To become the owner of glasses, you need to take into account a number of factors: financial situation, preferred clothing style, social environment in which a person is located, fashion trends of the season, preferences, etc.

Structure

World vision includes a complex of various characteristics of the spiritual life of an individual, formed through knowledge and understanding of the world. Attitude outlines emotional and psychological issues at the level of emotions, feelings, and moods.

Worldview determines the cognitive-intellectual sphere. As such, internal attitudes and views arose in the process of humanity’s transition to the tribal community - the first stable form of social organization. This was a big leap in development.

Components of worldview

There are many types of knowledge that a person accumulates in the process of studying the universe. Everyday experience allows you to adapt to life in society and navigate it, scientific experience allows you to analyze facts of a higher rank.

Interaction with the surrounding space is accompanied by an emotional response. We don’t just look at the creations of nature, forming a dry factual idea about them, we admire and even admire them.

Another important aspect of worldview is norms and values. Sometimes they even go against common sense: in order to protect a loved one, a child, many are ready to sacrifice themselves. People act based not so much on emotions or logic, but on their own beliefs and attitudes.

Actions determine the practical level of the ideological structure. You can openly express your attitude towards the world only through specific actions. So, the worldview consists of four main components: emotional, activity, cognitive and value. All of them are interconnected and form the internal integrity of the individual.

Peculiarities

The everyday type of worldview is formed spontaneously throughout a person’s life. It cannot be placed within a certain framework or structured into a system.

Every day a person, in the process of his activities and as a result of observing other people, receives new information that is processed and perceived by him.

In its pure form, everyday thinking could not exist due to its unsystematic nature and some abstractness.

To be sustainable, it needs to combine elements of mythology, religion, and science. This allows you to add the necessary rationality, practicality, and objectivity.

Thus, the emotionally figurative, fantastic perception of reality, which underlies the mythological worldview, often becomes part of everyday views.

Also, objective data obtained as a result of scientific research become an integral part of everyday life.

For example, a person’s everyday ideas about building family relationships can be based on scientific information received from psychological literature, and not just on the experience of previous generations.

The influence of moral principles preached by religion on the formation of everyday views is also great. A person participates in traditional rituals (baptism, funeral, burial service) not only for reasons of common sense and his experience, but also because of the presence of certain religious attitudes.

The borrowing of individual practical components of other types of worldview by the everyday worldview allows us to provide not only an emotional (worldview), but also a rational component (worldview).

A person successfully combines his own feelings obtained as a result of observations and experience with some practical data.

As a result, a set of values, ideals, and models is formed. They help you navigate life and make decisions. The world around us is being organized, becoming understandable and accessible.

The absence of an ordinary worldview would turn a person’s life into complete chaos, in which there would be no clear understanding of goals and paths of development.

The psyche of an individual without everyday attitudes would be in constant tension, since a person would not be able to predict and predict the development of events.

Thus, the everyday worldview, despite a number of shortcomings, plays a big role in the life of every person. Its presence allows an individual to exist safely in society, relying on common sense and existing experience.

2 ways of worldview - ordinary and philosophical:

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What types does science distinguish?

Within the framework of the historical approach, there are three main types of worldview: mythological, religious, philosophical.

Initially, it was mythology that was the foundation on which the value system in society rested. It has become one of the factors determining people's behavior. Mythological presupposes an emotional and imaginative vision of reality and endowing it with fantastic properties. Emotional experience in ancient times prevailed over rational (humanity simply did not have enough of it) and reflected a person’s fear of the unknown, unusual, and unfamiliar. The inability to correctly build cause-and-effect relationships gave rise to the need to explain natural and social phenomena by turning to science fiction.

When primitiveness as a principle for building life faded into the background, religion replaced myth. Unlike mythology, it brought with it dogmatism, a clearly formulated system of values ​​and rules. Examples of “right” and “wrong”, “good” and “bad”, “permissible” and “inadmissible” appeared. Now the deepest questions of human existence (about origin, birth and death) sought their resolution in belief in the supernatural.

Later, philosophy emerges, designed to structure and systematize different views on the world, society and man. Reason, consistency of thought, logic, and argumentation come to the fore. All three types appear in modern reality. They are reflected in how we relate to certain aspects of existence and relationships.

Definition of the concept

Worldview is usually understood as a holistic system of views on nature, society and man, the surrounding reality and the place of man himself in this system. Worldview is expressed through a system of values, through the ideals of a particular individual and a particular social group. The structure of the worldview is multi-layered.

Structural components of worldview

• knowledge;
• spiritual ideals;
• beliefs and principles;
• life values.

Worldview is formed more than once and for a lifetime in two ways:

• spontaneous;
• conscious.

Its formation occurs throughout the entire time that a person is alive. This is partly the result of upbringing, partly - one’s own life experience. The older a person is, the more conscious his worldview is.

In addition, scientists divide worldview into several forms.

Scientific worldview

Unlike all other types, this one is based on objective knowledge about nature and man. This is a kind of highest stage in the development of philosophical thought, but with less generalization and more accuracy. This way of seeing the world is based solely on the achievements of science and human knowledge, which make it possible to create an objective image of reality, to explain the essence of personality and its role in the formation and development of existing reality. Advantages:

1. reliance on the latest discoveries;
2. connection with the real essence of things;
3. practical orientation, direct influence on people’s activities.

Flaws:

1. indifference to meanings and the spiritual sphere;
2. the interests of a person and the desire to improve his situation do not play a big role.

What influences the formation of a worldview?

As noted above, a person’s worldview is formed throughout life under the influence of various external factors. The greatest influence is exerted by such factors as:

• Environment. Of course, first of all, these are the people surrounding the child as he grows up. These are parents and other relatives, educators and mentors. For most people, environment is the most important factor. For example, believers, as a rule, adhere to exactly the religion to which their parents taught them.
• Society. The worldview of society also plays an important role. As the child grows up, he largely adopts it through culture, traditions and stereotypes. His idea of ​​his place in society, family life, success and other social aspects is formed precisely on the basis of his social worldview.
• Religion. Most of the world's religions directly indicate what views a believer should adhere to, and also regulate the main aspects of personal and social life.
• Education and science. A high level of education usually helps a person develop a scientific worldview. He begins to separate emotions from facts and evaluate the reliability of new knowledge.
• Epoch. Worldview can be a sign of the era and temporary circumstances in which a person grows and matures. This factor has become especially significant now, in the era of accessible information and rapid development of technology. That’s why the worldview of most people now is so different from their parents’.
• Profession. The main type of activity, professional knowledge and experience have a significant impact on the formation of a worldview. The best example here are the psychologists mentioned above, for whom their education and experience allow them to understand much better not only the emotions of others, but also their own.

Religious worldview

Divides the world into two poles: “this” and “that”. Introduces concepts such as spirit, faith, God and does not require evidence or critical analysis. Establishes postulates that answer deep-seated questions that trouble a person: what is good and what is evil, what is the concept of the creation of the Universe. Religiosity presupposes adherence to strict rules of behavior, which are presented by the bearers of one or another teaching as truly true. Religion plays a colossal, albeit controversial, role in modern times. It is inextricably linked with universal human culture and is focused on solving spiritual problems. At the same time, it comes into conflict with other types of worldview.

Religion and us

Historians are convinced that the defining feature of a religious worldview is the prevention of social tension in a class society.
With the emergence of social and material inequality, it became necessary to create a system in order to prevent social riots, coups, and any mass disturbances. This is connected with the imposition of a religious worldview, which has taken over the baton of primacy from mythology.

The religious worldview is more progressive than the mythological one, since a person with it is more free. In Christianity, for example, the concept of free will is clearly expressed. This is confirmed by the fact that the religious worldview preaches the theory that God controls our lives, but we ourselves are responsible for our destiny.

The religious worldview understands the figure of the deity somewhat differently. In mythology, Gods are corporeal beings with all their sins, and in any religion God appears as a supernatural, perfect and non-corporeal being.

The main features of the religious worldview are the division into the otherworldly and the real world, the fact that the Gods are considered as the highest moral beings, whom the religious worldview calls to be equal to, and a certain freedom of human choice.

No matter how many analysts claim that an ever smaller number of humanity is susceptible to this type of worldview, that the religious worldview has to gradually retreat from its leading position in modern times, nevertheless, the number of believers is steadily growing.

Mythological worldview

It was formed at a historical stage when humanity gradually separated itself from nature and opposed it. Various cults and pantheons arose. Complex phenomena of social life were reflected in myths: like people, gods and heroes staged wars and competed with each other. Properties of mythology:

• endowing nature with human traits;
• interaction of the real with the fantastic;
• lack of logical analysis and reflection;
• practical focus on solving everyday problems;
• The plots are of the same type and superficial.

Archaic subtype

This is an ancient form of human ideas about himself, life and interaction with nature. It is characterized by the coexistence of reality and fantasy. Both of these concepts were once united in various variations of beliefs: totemism, animism, fetishism. In the same way, within the framework of this worldview there is no division into “I” and the world. Everything around has vital energy and requires a certain attitude (rituals, worship).

Choosing the right goal, according to the type of worldview

Many concepts from the listed types are firmly woven into our consciousness.

Some examples - then and now.

Archaic type: before - open worship of idols (all living things), now - baubles, beads, talismans... bringing good luck, the concept of many new people is “the living universe”...

Mythological type of worldview: earlier - worship of the pantheon of gods: Zeus, Veles, Iris..., now - from challing (receiving sacred knowledge from unearthly forms of being) to the influence of stars, the concepts of fate and karma, implicit and subtle worlds.

If a person fails, he cannot achieve success, here is the answer why this happens: the choice of goal is not from one’s own type of worldview.

The fact is that changing your vision of the world is quite difficult, but choosing the right one that corresponds to the type of worldview is quite simple. Only your own goal will bring success! From other people's goals, not your own, you will only be unhappy...

Good luck to you and choosing the right goals!

What worldviews do people have: philosophical direction

There is a huge amount of knowledge and ideas concerning the role and place of human culture, personality in the universe, as well as issues of life and death in general. Philosophy has undertaken to rethink all existing ideas about reality and highlight the most significant topics for discussion. In the process of historical development, many different schools arose (and still appear), many of which ideologically conflict with each other. Philosophers consider self-knowledge, the search for truth, and self-actualization to be the highest values. Differences from religion and myth:

• based on rational knowledge, not faith;
• reflection plays a dominant role;
• presence of integrity, system;
• clear concepts and categories.

Worldview and its levels

There are two levels of worldview: rational-theoretical and life-practical.

Rational-theoretical level

This is the level at which our mind studied the acquired knowledge, analyzed it and came to certain conclusions.

At this level, a person’s worldview is a system of his concepts and conclusions .

Life-practical level

At this level, our worldview is based only on experience , on those beliefs that we have come to because we have lived them.

For example, life experience may suggest that if a person ignores rudeness, then his mood does not spoil. Therefore, his attitude in life may be politeness to others.

Everyday worldview

It is based on everyday experience and is formed spontaneously, in the process of interaction of the individual with various spheres and manifestations of life. Attitudes formed by everyday thinking are autonomous and self-sufficient. Often they are accompanied by an exclusively associative way of perception, which is based on the knowledge and practice of ancestors or others. Moreover, new information within the framework of this worldview has the ability to be integrated and applied in various fields of activity. Intuition, emotions and feelings, and instincts play an important role. Also, views and beliefs are perceived in connection with value guidelines and norms of behavior that exist in the social system.

Characteristics and signs

The characteristic features include the following:

1. Integrity . All concepts and attitudes that form a person’s everyday thinking are autonomous and self-sufficient. Any type of experience or knowledge is included in a separate sphere of human life, which has its own patterns and rules. Thus, raising offspring belongs to the system of family values, and the ability to do housework belongs to the system of housekeeping. These systems are not directly connected to each other; each can exist separately from the other without losing its integrity and self-sufficiency.
2. Associative thinking .
   Perceiving the experience of his ancestors and other members of society, a person acts associatively. Finding himself in situations that he had previously observed in the example of other people, the individual already knows in advance what steps he should take.
3. Knowledge connection. By gaining knowledge about different systems, a person can combine them and successfully integrate them. Thus, communication skills can be successfully used in family, friendships, and professional relationships.
4. A combination of sensations and experiences. Everyday worldview is formed on the basis of not only everyday experience, but also sensations. Intuition, emotional sensitivity, a sense of self-preservation and other sensations inherent in a person help him in the formation of everyday perception.
5. Fragmentation . All the knowledge that makes up a person’s daily worldview is perceived by him in fragments. Most people perceive only necessary and interesting information from each knowledge system, since it is impossible to comprehend everything.
6. Eclecticism .
   The diversity of views in society on the same things leads to the fact that people's everyday worldviews vary greatly. Family values, norms of behavior, communication patterns and other components of everyday thinking are presented in great diversity. Each individual chooses the option that best suits his views.
7. Unsystematicity . The everyday worldview is largely based on abstractions. Specific methods and systems are unacceptable in this case.

What kind of worldview does a person have: exponential-personal representation

According to this concept, the way of thinking is formed as an individual grows. When he moves from a passive, dependent state to teenage reflection, crisis. Then and further he feels the full weight of social and cultural influence. Thus, the foundation of worldview is made up of many ideological types: faith is intertwined with myth, philosophy, everyday way of thinking and science in various proportions.

Dogmatism

Often the worldview is formed through a dogmatic way of perception. It presupposes uncritical but conscious adherence to externally established rules, norms, and laws.

Reflexivity

Another “style” of adherence to certain ideas or dogmas is a subconscious, unconscious desire for them. In this case (unlike dogma), reason is no longer included in analytical activity and reflection, therefore submission to certain principles and regulations occurs impulsively, reflexively.

Ask a question

Types of worldview, historical and social

They were formed in chronological order. It is very good to understand what the difference is - knowing the history of all mankind. From the Stone Age to the present day. Each period of time reflected the principles that lay in each of these types of worldview.

Another interesting fact: humanity developed - and its thinking developed, its worldview changed. And exactly the same thing happens with the development of a child. That is, in essence, every person, growing up, develops his own worldview by choosing appropriate goals.

Archaic type of worldview

This is humanity’s earliest understanding of the world, of man himself in it.

It is characterized by the fact that realism and fantasy are not separated from each other. These two concepts merged in the form of early beliefs: animism, fetishism, totheism. There is no clear division from your “I” and the world around you. As such an understanding, “Soul” does not exist at all. At the same time: all living things are endowed with life, like humans: from stone to the sun.

Life goals are not formed consciously: it is to please oneself and other animate beings (sacrifice, rituals, idols ....)

Mythological type of worldview

At this point in history, there is a clear separation of “oneself” from the world around us. And if there is an “I,” then there is a “He,” whose actions and thoughts may not coincide with mine. From such views, confrontation (confrontation) already occurs.

This is the era of cults and pantheons of gods. Just as life itself is full of confrontation and competition for a place in the sun, so myths are born about exactly the same confrontation between the gods.

Life goals are already acquiring a clearer structure and meaning: to be with the Powerful Ones of this world, to have power... to achieve the favor of a certain god or person...

Religious

An even greater division of the world. That there is this world and that world. The concepts of soul, spirit and body appear. To God is God, to Caesar what is Caesar's.

The concept of faith appears - in the invisible, without critical analysis of the latter. Ideas common to all religions: about God’s creation of the world, about the concepts of good and evil, about the consequences of not following certain rules of behavior.

Life goals - according to the concept of faith that a person professes - are “correct” in its understanding of actions and thoughts.

Philosophical type of worldview

With an increase in knowledge about the person himself and the world around him, a collapse occurs (critical mass), when this knowledge needs to be rethought. This is how various schools of philosophy are formed.

If the knowledge is reinterpreted in the context of such a school, then they believe that the philosophy is the same, but is developing... If the contradictions with the old school are obvious, a new philosophical movement is formed.

Life goals in this context are personal growth, self-development, self-actualization, search for truth...

What can be the role of worldview in a person’s life?

• It is the basis of personal integrity, which presupposes the presence of a clear system of values ​​and ideals.
• Structures the surrounding space, making it familiar, more understandable and safe.
• Suggests certain ways to achieve goals.
• Its absence makes life chaotic and the psyche unbalanced, full of contradictory attitudes, which leads to insoluble internal conflicts.

There is a state when the old worldview is destroyed (for example, disappointment in religious principles sets in), and a new one has not yet been formed in its place. This stage is called an ideological crisis. At this moment, it is extremely important to return the personality to integrity as soon as possible, otherwise healthy forms of worldview will be replaced by various delusions and surrogates: alcohol and drugs, sectarianism, and so on. The concept of “mentality” is also associated with worldview, which means a certain mindset, a set of mental properties and behavioral characteristics. It reflects the character of an entire group of people (for example, a nation), representing the inner world of an individual, passed through the prism of historical experience.

Functions: briefly in the table

key functions of the everyday worldview can be identified :

How to start a new life and change yourself? Find out the answer right now.

How to change your beliefs.

To begin, I will break down this form of thinking into two levels:

• sensual (empirical) – includes attitude, worldview, world experience;
• conceptual (theoretical) – worldview.

The easiest way is to turn the way of thinking in the other direction, working with the second stage, since it is associated with intellectual, logical perception. To do this, you need to directly influence the intellect, forming new attitudes. I recommend step-by-step instructions for changing your beliefs:

1. Take some time for yourself and think it through, admit to yourself your conviction in the area that does not suit you, and write it down in a notebook. From the created list, try to choose those that interfere with you and lead to a conflict between your goals and desires (“Everyone gets sick all the time”; “I often catch a virus”; “I have a very weak immune system”; “When I’m sick, everyone loves me”) ; “When I am sick, I rest and gain strength”; “Sick people receive increased attention and care”).
2. You yourself must solve your life difficulty, since it is not outside, but deep inside. If you change your negative beliefs to positive ones in the subconscious, you will change your reality.
3. Feel your strength and what you are capable of. Remember some negative thought and replace it with the opposite one, try repeating it for literally 2-3 minutes every morning for 3 weeks.
4. Do not try to immediately change all your persuasiveness, without overloading yourself, do it gradually. As soon as you have changed 2-4 thoughts, wait a while, let them take root and become fixed in your consciousness.

Choosing the right goal, according to the type of worldview

Find out which type of worldview prevails in you. What do you primarily rely on when talking about good and evil, the creation of the world, and the role of man in it?

1. Give reasons for your position.
2. Watch. Study reality, analyze, reflect, learn to draw competent conclusions. Experiment. Organize information by recording it. This way you will understand which path is most suitable for you.
3. Do some self-reflection. Understand what role you play in society, decide on your desires.
4. Reflect. Ask yourself deep questions and look for objective, logically provable answers.
5. Put personal experience aside. Do not follow the stereotypes and paradigms formed in the psyche. Do not project a particular case onto general ideas about the world.
6. Follow the presence rule. Realize that there is no past and future. There is only the present moment. Live and feel “here and now”; this is the only way your understanding of reality will not be distorted.
7. Give up attachments. Perceive your own personality as basic and fundamental. You don't have to live up to other people's ideas and expectations.
8. Explore different approaches: science, philosophy, art, the workings of everyday thinking. Look for answers not only within yourself, but also in different sources.
9. Develop your analytical skills. Logic will help separate the true from the false.

Recommendations for development

The importance of worldview

I think it will not be a secret for you to know that a person achieves success not only thanks to favorable events and hard work. What matters is his way of thinking. Have you heard stories about people who won a million, but after a short period of time they became poor again?

And about how billionaires lost everything, getting into countless debts, but literally a year later they were at the top again?

The right questions

What matters is not how much you have at the moment, but how you use it.

So take a moment and ask yourself these questions:

• Where I am? It seems like a strange question that causes bewilderment, but before you go somewhere, you should look back and look carefully. Really, right? Otherwise, there is a risk of getting to the wrong place, or, having chosen a completely unsafe road, and not getting anywhere, receiving only injuries and mutilations. This is where the created and accumulated ideas and knowledge will come in handy; they will serve as a guide.
• Who am I? The essence of a person has the following forms of manifestation: spirit, body and mind. What development goals do you set for yourself? What do you think is more dominant in you and what characteristics does each component have? And, of course, what is the meaning of life, purpose?
• How do I interact with the surrounding reality? How do I build relationships, how do I compete, or get my way? How do I show interest, love and other feelings? What do I present to the world, what part of myself? Do I trust others?
• What am I? What makes me happy and what makes me sad? Why do I get angry and how do I calm down? What do I think about myself? What are my main character traits? What am I grateful to myself for? Why am I ashamed? It is these and similar questions that every person must ask himself; only with the help of them can he explore and know himself. Then there will be no need to grab onto the opinions of people around you, trying on their assessments on yourself.
• And the last, important question: “What do I want?” It’s not enough to look around the place you’re in, it’s also important to understand what result you want to achieve at the end of the journey, otherwise you can endlessly go with the flow, getting disappointed and feeling angry every time because you “washed up” on the wrong shore. This is the final stage of knowing myself, when I understand what I am like, I can plan my activities depending on my skills and characteristics.