Learning the basics about ideology.
1)I believe Ideology is shaped not only by personal beliefs but also by the family and cultural values we grow up with. These early influences serve as a framework that shapes how we perceive the world and interpret different perspectives throughout life. For example, I grew up in what I believe was a moderate conservative environment, where everything was shaped around religion and freedom, but also not anti-government, but not welcoming to new possible social norms.
2) The difference in my understanding between conservative and liberal ideology is that conservatives often vote against their own interests, using religion and freedom as justification. Liberals, on the other hand, tend to be more open and focused on equality for everyone. For example, when I visited New Orleans, the infrastructure was poorly designed, and the highways and bridges were in horrible shape. Yet the state remains strongly conservative, with the people continuing to vote Republican year after year, even as conditions worsen with no real improvements. Despite who is elected.
3) Althusser’s definition, to me, is how we see our roles in society. Whether we realize it or not, we are all conditioned to obey rules and follow a certain path and it begins with school.
Hi Ariel, I absolutely agree that ideology isn’t something we choose freely; it’s something we inherit through the environment in which we grow up. Family, religion, culture, and community set the precedent for how we see the world. What’s powerful is that these early influences often feel like common sense. For example, growing up in a conservative religious household, ideas you’ve assimilated about morality or patriotism didn’t feel like a choice; instead, they probably felt like the natural order of things. Later in life, when we encounter other perspectives, we measure them against that framework we internalized as children. This shows how ideology works at a deep, almost unconscious level.
Also your example perfectly illustrates ideological identity, which I think is pretty cool.
It’s appreciated on you sharing how your own upbringing shaped your ‘framework.’ It ties in perfectly with what you said about Althusser—how we’re conditioned by things like school and religion before we even realize it’s happening. Your point about being ‘moderate conservative’ but not necessarily ‘anti-government’ shows how complex these ideologies actually are in real life, rather than just being a set of strict rules.