Beliefs inform which of the following?

• A. Attitudes
• B. Beliefs
• C. Values
• D. Behavior

Answer: (A)

Beliefs provide the information that shapes how we evaluate things, which shows up as attitudes. An attitude is an overall positive or negative evaluation of a specific object, person, or idea. When you hold beliefs about the consequences, properties, or meaning of something, those beliefs color your appraisal and lead you to feel favorable or unfavorable toward it. For example, believing that regular exercise improves health helps you form a positive attitude toward exercising, which in turn guides your readiness to engage in it. Values are broader guiding principles that can be influenced by beliefs over time, and behavior is shaped by attitudes plus other factors like norms and intentions, but the direct, most immediate effect of beliefs is on attitudes—the evaluative stance you hold toward the target.