Which term would be used to describe the belief systems that fundamentally shape our societal interactions?

The term that best describes the belief systems that fundamentally shape our societal interactions is values. Values are the deeply held principles that influence a person's behavior and decision-making and are often at the core of cultural norms and expectations within societies. They serve as a framework through which individuals interpret their experiences and make choices, ultimately guiding how they interact with others in their communities.

Values encompass areas such as ethics, morality, and priorities that society members share and uphold. They influence everything from interpersonal relationships to broader social practices, serving as unspoken rules that govern conduct and expectations in various contexts. In this way, values form a foundation for understanding social behavior and the dynamics of communities.

Conventions refer to established practices and norms that may arise from values but do not encompass the deeper beliefs themselves. Behaviors are the visible actions that result from these underlying values but do not capture the belief systems that incite them. Guidelines refer to recommendations or frameworks for conduct rather than the foundational beliefs that shape our interactions. Therefore, values is the most accurate term for describing those fundamental belief systems.