I think it depends on the category of belief. My gut says that fiction is particularly good at instilling beliefs about things like:
What constitutes moral behavior
Normal and effective modes of social interaction; the mechanics of social status
What constitutes a normal level of beauty, power, wealth, intelligence, wit
I think that fiction can be powerfully misleading on these subjects. Nevertheless, I don’t agree with the OP’s argument that we should avoid fiction. That seems to me an example of safety culture taken to an extreme. I don’t feel a need to helicopter parent my own mind!
I think it depends on the category of belief. My gut says that fiction is particularly good at instilling beliefs about things like:
What constitutes moral behavior
Normal and effective modes of social interaction; the mechanics of social status
What constitutes a normal level of beauty, power, wealth, intelligence, wit
I think that fiction can be powerfully misleading on these subjects. Nevertheless, I don’t agree with the OP’s argument that we should avoid fiction. That seems to me an example of safety culture taken to an extreme. I don’t feel a need to helicopter parent my own mind!