A belief system is defined by how well one attitude predicts others

Evidence

We define a belief system as a configuration of ideas and attitudes in which the elements are bound together by some form of constraint or functional interdependence. In the static case, “constraint” may be taken to mean the success we would have in predicting, given initial knowledge that an individual holds a specified attitude, that he holds certain further ideas and attitudes. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1850

Categorization

• DEFINE: Operational definition of ‘belief system’ via statistical ‘constraint’ between attitudes — the backbone concept of the whole article.