mentalities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mentalities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the characteristic ways of thinking or attitudes of a group of people or individuals. Example: "Different cultures often have distinct mentalities that influence their social interactions and decision-making processes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He put this tension down to an over-bureaucratic system that crushes initiative and encourages passivity, and called for a shift in mentalities.

The Economist

Most westerners doing business with the Chinese are convinced that they are confronting inscrutable mentalities.

The Economist

It merely strengthened old mentalities and deep-seated beliefs.

The Economist

Histories of ideas ReprintsThe focus of "Classes and Culture" is "the fundamental mentalities and structures of English society from the end of the first world war until the mid-1950s".

The Economist

The irony is that while Mr Obama and Mr Medvedev have pledged "to move beyond cold-war mentalities and chart a fresh start", the central (and safest) topic of talks is nuclear-arms control, just as it was in the 1980s.

The Economist

AK has rammed through laws to punish negligent employers, but Ahmet Davutoglu, the prime minister, concedes that to improve safety "mentalities must change".In Esenyurt danger lurks in a high-voltage line near a cluster of new high-rise blocks.

The Economist

Argentina's tax superintendent, Carlos Silvani, has his work cut out for him.A former adviser to the IMF, Mr Silvani has kept himself in the headlines since he got his new job last year, by widening its boundaries: he aims to change mentalities, not just collect money.

The Economist

It also reflected his continuing interest in another preoccupation of the Annales school, "mentalities," which Duby defined as "the shifting set of images and unargued certitudes to which the members of a given group refer".

Encyclopedia Britannica

It replaced the study of leaders with the lives of ordinary people and supplanted the hallowed trio of politics, diplomacy, and wars with inquiries into climate, demography, agriculture, commerce, technology, transportation, and communication, as well as social groups and mentalities.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The year 1947 was the final year of modern Romania: liberal political and economic structures and individualist mentalities nurtured during the preceding century gave way to a collectivist model of development and an alien ideology.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And when the road towards appropriation isn't being led by celebrities, it's brandished in the form of mentalities and hashtags like #WhiteGirlsStayWinning.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mentalities" to refer to the characteristic attitudes, mindsets, or ways of thinking common to a group of people or a specific context.

Common error

Be careful not to assume that all members of a group share the same "mentalities". Acknowledge individual differences and nuances within any population.

Linguistic Context

The term "mentalities" functions as a noun, typically used in the plural form, to denote the characteristic ways of thinking, attitudes, or mindsets of a group of people, a culture, or within a specific context. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Encyclopedias

12%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

6%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mentalities" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed term to describe collective mindsets and attitudes. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is correct and applicable across diverse domains. Primarily found in news and media, as well as encyclopedic sources, it effectively conveys complex patterns of thought. When employing "mentalities", ensure you avoid overgeneralization and accurately represent the nuances of the group or context you are discussing. Alternatives like "mindsets" or "attitudes" can be used for variety, but "mentalities" remains a precise and valuable term for analyzing collective cognitive frameworks.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mindsets

Direct synonym, focusing on established sets of attitudes or beliefs.

ways of thinking

Emphasizes the cognitive processes and patterns of thought.

attitudes

Focuses on the emotional and evaluative stances.

belief systems

Highlights the organized sets of beliefs that shape understanding.

collective consciousness

Emphasizes the shared awareness and values of a group.

prevailing attitudes

Highlights the widespread and dominant attitudes within a group.

cultural norms

Focuses on the standard behaviors and expectations shaped by culture.

intellectual frameworks

Emphasizes the structured approaches to understanding and reasoning.

cognitive frameworks

Highlights how individuals process information and make decisions.

worldviews

Focuses on comprehensive perspectives or philosophies.

FAQs

How do I use "mentalities" in a sentence?

You can use "mentalities" to describe the characteristic attitudes or ways of thinking of a group, as in: "The company needs to shift its old-fashioned "mentalities" to embrace innovation."

What are some alternatives to the word "mentalities"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "mindsets", "attitudes", or "belief systems".

Is it correct to use "mentalities" in formal writing?

Yes, "mentalities" is appropriate for formal writing. It is often used in academic and professional contexts to describe complex patterns of thought and behavior.

What's the difference between "mentalities" and "mentality"?

"Mentality" refers to a single way of thinking, while "mentalities" refers to multiple, often differing, ways of thinking within a group or context.