Unit 0: Identity and Ideology

Belief

A notion, conviction, or impression that an individual or group accepts as true.

Beliefs

The ideas and understandings that a person holds to be true, often influenced by such things as culture, language, religion, gender, and worldview

Collective identity

Aspects of an individual's identity that are held in common with a larger group.

Collectivism

An approach to social organization that puts the needs of the group as a whole above the needs and rights of individuals within the group.

Conservative

A person or ideology that is opposed to, or cautious about, change.

Counterrevolutionary

A person or ideology that vehemently resists change or seeks change back to a previous state of affairs. Counterrevolutionaries may advocate violence to achieve their goals.

Extremist

A person who has fanatical or immoderate views and beliefs

Identity

The fact of being who or what a person or thing is.

Ideology

A set of principles or ideas that explains your world and your place within it, which is based on certain assumptions and human nature and society and provides an interpretation of the past, an explanation of the present, and a vision for the future.

Individualism

An approach to social organization that promotes individual rights over group needs and advocates personal independence.

Left-wing

A term applied to ideologies, governments, political parties, and policies that promote change.

Liberal

A person who believes in the ideology of liberalism. Not to be confused with the Liberal Party or a member of the Liberal Party.

Moderate

A person or ideology that shuns extremism and rejects violence as a means to achieving political or social goals.

Personal identity

A set of characteristics that connect or set people apart from others.

Radical

A person or ideology that advocates rapid and substantial change. Often rejects political and economic traditions of the past.

Reactionary

A person or ideology that vehemently resists change or seeks change back to a previous state of affairs.

Revolutionary

A person or ideology that advocates rapid and substantial change and the replacement of the existing system, often through violent means.

Right-wing

A term applied to ideologies, governments, political parties, and policies that resist change or promotes change that will return society to a previous state or condition.

Value

A principle, philosophy, or code that defines what is important or desirable.

Values

The ideas and understandings that people hold to be important or fundamental to who they are as individuals or as members of a group

Worldview

A collection of beliefs about life and the universe, the lens through which the world is viewed, or the overall perspective from which the world is held by an individual or group.