Understanding Belief - A Mindset Agency Approach

Abstract

Maurice Yolles

This paper explores the concept of agency behaviour within complex adaptive systems, leveraging the Mindset Agency Theory (MAT) framework. The connections between agents within an agency population reveal a remarkable capacity for adaptation, which MAT explains through two key dualities: affect–cognition and tangible–intangible. The affect– cognition duality acknowledges the interplay between emotions and rational thought, enabling an understanding of how internal states influence behaviour and shape the social structures that agents inhabit. The tangible–intangible duality illuminates how agencies interact with their environments, recognising that observable behaviours represent only part of the behavioural spectrum. A critical addition to MAT is the formalisation of beliefs—specifically core beliefs and self-efficacy beliefs—as traits that span the tangible–intangible continuum. Core beliefs, often formed early in life, operate automatically and influence emotional responses, while self-efficacy beliefs reflect an agent’s perceived capacity to act. These belief traits are essential for understanding agency behaviour, particularly in digital environments where technology acts as an amplifier. It intensifies both positive and negative aspects of the dualities by elaborating emotional responses (affect) and simultaneously creating echo chambers that constrain exposure to diverse viewpoints (cognition). The paper argues that belief dynamics must be integrated into MAT to enhance its explanatory power. It draws on empirical research and theoretical models to examine how technology shapes affective and cognitive processes, belief systems, and agency behaviour. By analysing the interaction between core and self-efficacy beliefs, the paper proposes strategies for navigating the complexities of digital environments. These insights are applied to a case study on Hungary’s use of digital tools to support its illiberal regime, demonstrating how belief-informed agency analysis can illuminate broader socio-political dynamics.

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