The Student Room Group

How is an opinion formed?

I was thinking about this a lot. How do you form your opinions? Are they based on what you see/hear/research?

If you hear somebody say something and regurgitate it in a conversation, then that is not your own opinion.
If you see a TV program, then use that as a basis for your information, then that is also not your opinion, because the data is biased, and compiled by somebody else.
So, to form a completely own opinion, do you do a lot of research online, read books, watch programs, talk to people, to make sure that you've covered the topic, from as many sources as possible?

Most of us probably do not exercise such great depth of research when we have something to say. Should we? Of course, it depends on the topic and genre of conversation. More often than not, though, I find that I do not have enough knowledge to give a comletely personal, informed opinion, so I say something that I've heard somewhere.

In one respect it seems ok to do so, otherwise many of us would keep saying that 'I do not know enough about the subject to give you an answer', but on the other hand, it is in this way that strong, unsupported opinions and rumours, such as the ones illuminated by the media get spread round. I was just reading a thread on the treatment on Muslim women, and saw the variety of opinions there. If I asked you about the state of Moscow life and treatment of Muscovites, what opinions would you give me?

Sorry for the rambling, it's just something that has been on my mind for a while.
Reply 1
wel even if we did stacks of research, we'd be forming our opinions based on other people's opinions, therefore nicking elements from everyone's perception.
Ideas are absorbed or created at the subconscious level, identified with, adapted, and then are presented to consciousness - we do not author thoughts, opinions etc - they author us. Thoughts appear to us at the subconscious' will, not our will.
Reply 3
The Dishwasher
I was thinking about this a lot. How do you form your opinions? Are they based on what you see/hear/research?

If you hear somebody say something and regurgitate it in a conversation, then that is not your own opinion.
If you see a TV program, then use that as a basis for your information, then that is also not your opinion, because the data is biased, and compiled by somebody else.
So, to form a completely own opinion, do you do a lot of research online, read books, watch programs, talk to people, to make sure that you've covered the topic, from as many sources as possible?

Most of us probably do not exercise such great depth of research when we have something to say. Should we? Of course, it depends on the topic and genre of conversation. More often than not, though, I find that I do not have enough knowledge to give a comletely personal, informed opinion, so I say something that I've heard somewhere.

In one respect it seems ok to do so, otherwise many of us would keep saying that 'I do not know enough about the subject to give you an answer', but on the other hand, it is in this way that strong, unsupported opinions and rumours, such as the ones illuminated by the media get spread round. I was just reading a thread on the treatment on Muslim women, and saw the variety of opinions there. If I asked you about the state of Moscow life and treatment of Muscovites, what opinions would you give me?

Sorry for the rambling, it's just something that has been on my mind for a while.


This is exactly how the jews use the media to influence the population, and judging from most of the posts on this forum, i`d say you have a LOT of brainwashed suckers in england and the UK.
Reply 4
So by gatering other opinions, which are already influenced by preceding opinions, we make our own opinion, which will then serve to influence other opinions not yet made. :rolleyes:

So do philosophers make the initial opinions? :wink:

There are the personal tastes and preferences - Cats are better than dogs
Then the political spectra - Labour is better than Conservative
Then...? abstract? There is life after death? Nothing exists?!

We are all influenced by everything that happens around us, so I agree with priya and Biggles. Our ideas are born out of the knowledge that we acquire.

AntiLiberal, what do you have to support your opinion? :biggrin:
Reply 5
It is a really difficult question - when does learned knowledge become your knowledge? Personally I think very little knowledge is original and if someone can lucidly present an argument in the right context showing they fully understand it, even if it's not their own argument, then credit to them for reading.
Reply 6
I think all opinions are to some extent formed by other people. Even if you research your ideas you are influenced by the person who wrote the thing you are getting your research from.
Reply 7
Well I think its like saying what is mind or memories. There is no actual physical thing to represent them is there - thats why too twins do not have the same mind and why if you cloned a dead relative they wouldn't be the same person. Therefore its kind of hard to say how something that obviously exists and yet also doesn't exist may (or may not) form.
Indoctrination, indoctrination, indoctrination .............
Reply 9
I dont think opinions themselves are the result of everyone else - even if its non-directly, because to say that it suggest we're sort of non-passive sponge-like beings which absorb other peoples' ideas/opinions. We have the ability to reject or accept or follow or make new opinions. So I guess the point i am trying to make about this question is that basically opinions are formed by yourself, the thing that makes you - you. Sounds bit vague doesnt it? Of course other people influence your opinions, but only ifyou choose to do so, at the end of the day its upto you how and what opinions you form.
Opinions are formed in exactly the same way as all ideas are formed - from experience.
Reply 11
The Dishwasher
I was thinking about this a lot. How do you form your opinions? Are they based on what you see/hear/research?

If you hear somebody say something and regurgitate it in a conversation, then that is not your own opinion.
If you see a TV program, then use that as a basis for your information, then that is also not your opinion, because the data is biased, and compiled by somebody else.
So, to form a completely own opinion, do you do a lot of research online, read books, watch programs, talk to people, to make sure that you've covered the topic, from as many sources as possible?

Most of us probably do not exercise such great depth of research when we have something to say. Should we? Of course, it depends on the topic and genre of conversation. More often than not, though, I find that I do not have enough knowledge to give a comletely personal, informed opinion, so I say something that I've heard somewhere.

In one respect it seems ok to do so, otherwise many of us would keep saying that 'I do not know enough about the subject to give you an answer', but on the other hand, it is in this way that strong, unsupported opinions and rumours, such as the ones illuminated by the media get spread round. I was just reading a thread on the treatment on Muslim women, and saw the variety of opinions there. If I asked you about the state of Moscow life and treatment of Muscovites, what opinions would you give me?

Sorry for the rambling, it's just something that has been on my mind for a while.


sounds like something that could have been discussed in a TOK class.
i think that your opinions is formed by some kind of mix with all the impressions that you get. with the impressions beeing experience, research facts, arguments from a conversation etc.
Reply 12
I think oppinons are formed by what information you read or hear and what oppinons you hear from others. Some peoples oppinons become invalid when they are blinded by there own stubbornish attitude.

Some people try to use there oppinon as a fact, thus fact and oppinon are mixed so much on this forum that people are confused, thus argueing and petty childish disputes erupt.
Reply 13
I'm just trying to get a debate going somethings, i don't always believe in what i say here. it is a debate forum after all :biggrin:
Reply 14
This was the last question on the AQA General Studies Module 4 paper, if I remember correctly.