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The psychology behind superstition: How does behaviorism explain our superstitious behavior?
Superstition is still prevalent in today's society. Whether it is avoiding certain numbers or believing in "lucky items", these behaviors all demonstrate the human psychological desire to control uncertainty. In fact, how superstitious behavior is formed and the psychological processes behind it have always been hot topics in psychological research.
Superstitions are beliefs or practices that are considered irrational or supernatural by non-believers, often related to activities such as luck, spells, astrology, and prophecy.
According to behaviorism, superstitious behavior is often based on past experience and the result of reinforcement learning. In a classic experiment conducted in 1948 by psychologist B.F. Skinner, pigeons exhibited what appeared to be superstitious behavior in the process of obtaining food. The pigeons used certain behaviors, such as circling or bobbing their heads, to influence the delivery of food, even though the food was delivered automatically at regular intervals. Skinner's theory states that the behavior is actually caused by animals trying to obtain rewards by repeating certain actions, regardless of whether these actions actually have a direct connection with the results.
Within the framework of behaviorism, superstitious behavior can be explained as a reinforcement effect: when a person continues to try a certain behavior but is constantly frustrated, it will strengthen the individual's persistence in this behavior. Research shows that when an individual expects a certain reinforcement, if they do not receive the reward they expected, this will psychologically create a sense of persistence, making them more likely to perform the same behavior in the future. This is called the partial reinforcement effect.
In sports settings, it is common to believe that certain "lucky rituals" can improve athletes' performance, but such superstitions are often more about reducing stress and boosting confidence than actually improving ability.
In addition, research by psychologist Stuart Vyse points out that superstitious behavior is closely linked to cultural background and social environment. Vyse notes that in cultures that have not adopted modern science, local superstitious practices are actually local understandings of the world. If a culture places greater emphasis on individual beliefs or traditions, superstitious behaviors may arise that may have been considered necessary in ancient societies.
“People tend to attribute events to supernatural causes, especially when natural explanations are lacking.”
This trend suggests that when faced with unexpected events or uncertainty, humans are more inclined to look for ways to provide explanations, which makes superstitious behavior not just an individual psychological state, but also a social phenomenon. When surprising events lack clear cause and effect, people are more likely to attribute them to supernatural forces. For example, Boston Red Sox fans once believed in the "Curse of the Babine," which explained the team's 86 years of losing after trading famous player Babe Ruth, and such an explanation gave fans a certain sense of control.
Psychologists have also found some overlap between superstitions and individuals' obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). They note that individuals with superstitious behaviors often experience "magical thinking," the belief that certain actions or rituals can prevent misfortune, which is particularly common in religious contexts or cultures that believe in magic. These behaviors not only affect daily life, but may also affect purchasing behavior. Consumers' superstitious behaviors can manifest themselves in everything from investment decisions to gambling activities.
"Based on consumer behavior analysis, superstition is often seen as a heuristic tool that specifically affects a variety of consumer behaviors."
According to some studies, certain superstitious practices lead people to refrain from trading and travelling on important days (such as Friday the 13th), with a significant economic impact estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars. The existence of this superstitious behavior also reveals the human psychological desire to control and predict future events. Of course, this also raises the question of to what extent superstitious behavior affects our daily decisions and lifestyles?
In the face of a rapidly changing world, how should we view these superstitious behaviors that are rooted in culture and history? Between rationality and irrationality, does superstition reflect our deep-seated anxiety?
