Superstitions: Where Do They Come From, and Why Do People Believe in Them?
Superstitions:
Where Do They Come From, and Why Do People Believe in Them?
When undesirable events occur in our lives,
our natural response is to look for reasons. We try to identify causes so we
can avoid repeating the same outcomes. Often, this process is logical and
helpful. We learn, adapt, and move forward.
But this search for meaning does not always
lead us to accurate conclusions. Sometimes, instead of identifying real causes,
we attach significance to unrelated details. A coincidence becomes an
explanation. A single occurrence becomes a pattern. When this happens,
superstition begins to take shape.
One of the most striking aspects of
superstition is how little evidence it requires. A single event is often
enough. If something good happens while a certain object is present, or
something bad follows a particular action, the mind quickly connects the two.
No repeated testing is needed. Contradictory examples are rarely given equal
weight. Instead, the few instances that support the belief are remembered,
while countless opposing examples are ignored. In this way, superstition can
grow from a minimal amount of data.
Over time, people begin to build rituals
around these fragile connections. The purpose is rarely logical consistency; it
is emotional reassurance. A well-known example is Michael Jordan wearing his
University of North Carolina shorts under his Chicago Bulls uniform in every
game. While the ritual became famous, the shorts themselves had no influence on
his success. Jordan lost many games before winning championships, which alone
challenges the idea that clothing affected the outcome.
Sports fans demonstrate the same behavior on
a broader scale. During the 2011 Cricket World Cup final, when India was
batting, many households around the world became completely still. In my own
home in America, we were watching the match and no one was allowed to move,
change seats, or even speak while Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni were batting.
Rationally, we knew our actions had no impact on the game being played
thousands of miles away. Emotionally, however, it felt as if we had to do
something to help secure the win.
Superstitions exist in every culture, and
where belief exists, opportunity follows. Over time, a billion-dollar industry
has emerged around managing, preventing, or neutralizing superstition. From
amulets and gemstones to rituals, consultations, and protective symbols, those
who learned how to turn belief into a product built thriving businesses. The
belief in the evil eye is one of the most common examples, spanning continents
and cultures and generating enormous commercial value.
At its core, superstition is a mental
condition driven by uncertainty and fear of the unknown. Rituals and objects
offer a sense of control when outcomes feel unpredictable. As long as the cost
remains small and the belief does not interfere with rational thinking,
superstition can provide psychological comfort and help individuals move
forward.
However, it is important to recognize the
boundary. Superstitions do not influence outcomes. They are built on minimal
data, reinforced by emotion, and sustained through repetition. Their power lies
not in reality, but in perception.
In the end, superstitions tell us less about
how the world works and more about how deeply humans crave certainty in an
uncertain world.
Author’s Commentary
ReplyDeleteI want to add a cautionary note. While some superstitions remain personal and largely harmless, history reminds us that belief without reason has often caused real harm. It is one thing for Michael Jordan to believe that wearing his college shorts under his Bulls uniform gave him mental strength or a sense of confidence. That belief stayed personal and affected no one else.
It is another matter when superstition is used to explain illness, death, or misfortune by assigning blame to people. In some communities, the death of a family member after a joyful event such as a wedding is blamed on the bride, condemning her to a lifetime of suffering. In Western history, many women were labeled witches and burned alive, often for behaviors that today would be understood as mental health conditions.
These examples highlight the danger of superstition when it moves beyond personal coping and becomes a social judgment. When belief is used to label people as cursed, it stops being harmless and becomes destructive.