Ideologies is defined by dictionary.com as, "the body doctrine, myth, belief, etc., that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class, or large group." It is a belief system, a code of values and attitudes. It is the moral code, the code of ethics, it is known as the norms for appropriate behavior. Out of all these definitions that are ideology, they can be broken down into three subgroups: beliefs, values, and norms.
In a culture, beliefs are symbolic statements about what is real, aka the accepted truths of a culture. The dictionary.com definition of belief is "confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof."
A belief is something that cannot be challenged by facts, only by doubt. A religious system is a belief system or a specific belief.
There are many religions and religious beliefs, and no one can say that one is right while another is wrong because it can not be proved. Inside a culture, beliefs are most of the time passed down and taught, so different cultures have different beliefs in what is real, and if those cultures are isolated, or somewhat isolated, their beliefs will most likely not stray from what has been passed down.
Values can be tied to belief systems, but are a little more personal and specific. A value is something that is important or desirable. For example, in a belief system, say religion, there are certain values that go hand in hand. If your belief system is religion, Christianity to
be specific, you believe that it is wrong to lie, to murder someone, etc. Those are all values within a specific belief system. Honest, morality, knowing the difference between right and wrong; these are all examples of values within a belief system.
The norms within a culture take it one step further. These are a person, or groups rules of behavior. Norms are the actions performed daily and can have consequences. There are three different types of norms: folkways, mores, and laws.
Folkways are a persons manners and customs in everyday life, and are most of the time passed down from your parents or elders and do not really have extreme consequences.
Mores are more in tune with the moral code, or codes given by religions. The 10 Commandments are examples of mores.
Mores usually have some type of deep passion behind them, and consequences for breaking mores is more extreme than the consequences for breaking folkways.
Laws are the most strict norms. These are the formal codes given by governmental bodies to keep order. There are formal consequences if violations occur. Laws are accepted, or at least enforced, throughout entire cultures, but vary from culture to culture.
Ideologies vary from culture to culture. So do beliefs, values, and norms. This is an important concept to understand, especially if you plan to visit or study different cultures. Something that is very simple and considered a "norm" in the United States may mean or represent something completely different in another culture. It is essential that people take the necessary precautions and research different cultures they may visit to avoid misunderstandings.
