Final answer:
Beliefs are hard to change due to the interconnectedness of belief systems which makes alteration challenging without affecting the entire system of beliefs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Beliefs are at least partially hard to change because of the interconnectedness of belief systems. This interconnectedness means that our beliefs are a complex network of ideas that support and reinforce each other, making it challenging to modify any single element without affecting the whole. Belief systems can reach a point where they become burdened with qualifiers and alternate interpretations to explain discrepancies, leading to a system that resists easy alteration. The process of critical examination and the potential reassessment or rejection of beliefs requires considerable effort. It involves careful scrutiny and the acceptance of more internally coherent belief systems that satisfy the demands of reason and the desire for external grounding.
Mental habits and belief systems perform useful functions, offering hope and consolation. There is often a strong desire to retain these beliefs to avoid the feared intellectual chaos that may result from rejecting a familiar system. Moreover, the desire to belong to a group with shared beliefs can also deter individuals from critical thinking that may lead to changing those beliefs.