The first Friday the 13th of 2024 occurs this month – should you hide under the duvet or go about your day as normal? In this blog, I explore the psychology behind superstitions, along with some practical tips for escaping their grip…
Superstitions are beliefs or practices that arise from the assumption that certain events or actions are connected to outcomes in ways that defy logic or scientific understanding. They often stem from a desire to control or predict the uncertain aspects of life. The psychology behind superstitions is deeply rooted in the way we think and feel, as well as being influenced by social and cultural factors.
Humans love patterns
Pattern recognition enables us to make sense of the world around us as well as helping us to find predictability in situations of uncertainty. This desire for patterns will often lead us to make connections between unrelated events, such as walking under a ladder and then encountering bad luck. Superstitions often emerge from this tendency to associate a specific behaviour or action with an outcome.
Confirmation bias also plays a part, which means focusing on information that confirms our beliefs and ignoring evidence that contradicts them. In other words, if you believe that breaking a mirror will lead to bad outcomes, you are more likely to notice only negative events afterwards and thereby reinforce your belief.
Controlling uncertainty
Superstitions often arise in situations where we feel uncertain or anxious, such as before an exam, a job interview or a sporting event. Superstitious behaviours provide a sense of control over outcomes that are otherwise unpredictable. They act as coping mechanisms, reducing fear and anxiety by creating an illusion of influence over uncontrollable circumstances.
In an unpredictable world, superstitions offer comfort by giving us a set of rules or rituals to follow. This predictability can create a psychological sense of safety, helping us to manage stress and uncertainty.
Ritualistic behaviour or superstition?
The tennis player Rafa Nadal is well-known for his pre-match routines. As he explains in his 2011 memoir, it’s a way of organising his environment and getting himself mentally into the zone:
“And then I put the two bottles down at my feet, in front of my chair to my left, one neatly behind the other, diagonally aimed at the court. Some call it superstition, but it’s not. If it were superstition, why would I keep doing the same thing over and over whether I win or lose? It’s a way of placing myself in a match, ordering my surroundings to match the order I seek in my head.”
For other sports persons, it can be things like putting on the left shoe before the right, pouring water on their oars, kissing the rosary or performing the Haka. Although these kinds of routines don’t generally serve any practical purpose in terms of performance, they are crucial to an athlete’s mental and emotional state, helping them to become fully focused and eliminate distractions.
The difference lies in the purpose of the behaviour and the related beliefs. A ritual is a set of practices that mentally prepares you for an event, whereas a superstition involves a belief of causality. Both are important from a psychological perspective, and both can have their downfalls when something prevents the desired behaviour from being executed. A ritual can become a superstition if it is believed to consistently produce a specific outcome, thereby reinforcing the connection.
Placebo effect
Belief in the efficacy of a superstition or ritual can create a psychological placebo effect. When we believe that a particular action or object can bring good luck or protection, we may feel more confident and perform better, which can lead to actual positive outcomes. This self-fulfilling prophecy strengthens our belief in the superstition. Of course, the converse can then arise when we realise we forgot to put on our lucky pants or we can’t find our rabbit’s foot keyring before that all-important event!
Cultural bonding
As well as providing psychological comfort and a placebo effect, certain superstitions can support cultural and social bonding – think “first footing” (a Scottish tradition that involves being the first person to enter a home after midnight on New Year’s Eve), ravens at the Tower of London (there must always be six otherwise the crown will fall), Tuesday the 13th (bad luck in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries), whistling at the sun (will bring rain if you are Norwegian), throwing salt over your left shoulder (a Mahayana Buddhist tradition to ward off evil spirits after a funeral) and countless other examples.
Harmful effects
As already suggested, superstitions come with a risk:
Irrational anxiety – a belief that something as innocuous as stepping on a paving crack or putting up an umbrella indoors could lead to bad luck may result in a heightened sense of worry and psychological stress.
Avoidant behaviour – in some cases, superstitions may lead us to make irrational choices or avoid logical courses of action. For example, you might refuse to pursue a promising opportunity because you believe it’s happening on an “unlucky” day. This can limit your potential or cause you to miss important chances in life.
Financial exploitation – some superstitions can propel us to spend money on ineffective or fraudulent remedies, such as fortune-tellers, good-luck charms or pseudoscientific cures, in the hope of avoiding bad outcomes. This financial strain can be harmful, especially if it takes priority over more practical or evidence-based solutions.
Obsessive-compulsive behaviour – a compulsion to perform certain rituals or avoid particular actions can result in feelings of distress if we are unable to follow through on these behaviours.
Irrational thinking – when we believe in superstitions, we may become more susceptible to conspiracy theories, pseudoscience or other ungrounded ideas. This can lead to poor decision-making in many areas of our life.
Prejudice and stigma – some superstitions, such as believing birthmarks to be the mark of the devil, can be hugely detrimental to the wellbeing of affected individuals.
Excessive reliance – placing too much weight on a superstition can erode our confidence in personal skills or decision-making. We may attribute success or failure to external factors (such as lucky objects) rather than our own efforts or abilities, which then undermines our sense of control.
Health implications – some superstitions can negatively impact physical or mental health. For instance, if you believe in a superstition that discourages you from seeking medical treatment (e.g. relying on a ritual rather than visiting a doctor), it could result in serious health risks.
So how do you stop a superstition?
There are a number of things you can do to escape the grip of an unhelpful superstition:
Increase your awareness – a superstition is essentially a belief, so the first step is to recognise its existence and how it’s affecting your behaviour. Also notice the contexts in which your superstition plays out.
Challenge the superstition – is there really a cause and effect link? Do you have evidence to support the efficacy of your actions? Is it logical and rational to believe that your superstitious behaviour impacts the outcome?
Conduct some experiments – try breaking with your superstition and notice what happens. Do this repeatedly to rule out coincidence.
Understand psychological bias – are you looking for patterns and correlations that aren’t really there? Learn to become comfortable with uncertainty and randomness.
Develop new habits – if your superstitious behaviour relates to situations of anxiety, adopt more helpful coping strategies such as breathing techniques, mindfulness, visualisation or exercise. Focus on your abilities and accomplishments and recognise that these are what produce successful outcomes, not some unrelated ritual.
Seek support – talk to someone who can help you explore your behaviour more rationally, and distance yourself from anyone who encourages and reinforces your superstition.
Educate yourself – learn more about randomness and probability so that you can challenge your thinking with logic and reasoning.
Take ownership – your actions, decisions and efforts are what influence your outcomes, not fate. By improving your confidence and decision-making skills, you can learn to trust your abilities and reduce your reliance on superstitions.
Track progress – as with any behaviour change efforts, keep track of your actions and their impact so you can maintain momentum. And remember to celebrate your wins.
Get professional help – if your superstitions are causing significant distress or interfering with daily life, working with an appropriate professional can be helpful. As a Life Coach and NLP Master Practitioner, I can help you address irrational beliefs and replace them with healthier thought patterns.
Summary
Superstitions are essentially irrational beliefs. They can be relatively harmless or even helpful in some situations, providing comfort or boosting confidence. However, they can become harmful if they lead to irrational decisions, create excessive fear or interfere with practical problem-solving. The key is to be aware of the line between a harmless ritual and a belief that negatively impacts daily life, health or wellbeing.
To address unhelpful superstitions, focus on increasing self-awareness, challenging irrational beliefs and replacing them with positive, rational habits. Use logic, education and coping strategies to reduce anxiety and improve your sense of control. Gradually breaking the mental and emotional patterns that reinforce superstitions can lead to more empowered and logical thinking.
As a Personal Excellence Coach, I believe everyone has the power to achieve greatness, and every business has the right to employ great people!
Every day is a chance to grow, to learn and to be better than yesterday.
Book a free call and find out how coaching could help you.