leo burghaus

Have you ever noticed how many airlines skip row 13 when numbering their seats? I find that intriguing. More so because it contrasts with the engineering feat of making 200 tons of weight travel safe.

Superstition in such contexts is amusing. It also shows that superstition speaks to something innate in us humans.It’s everywhere. From the way we design stuff, to what we wear, how we speak, and how we behave.

Let’s explore why we’re inclined to it, and reflect a bit on what that means for us.

Origins of superstition

The origin of superstition dates way back. Ancient civilizations were trying to explain mysterious events the best way they could. Since we’re not good with uncertainty, we needed the rational justifications for all types of circumstances: rain, luck, love, death, sickness, etc…

For example, Romans thought that you could see yourself in glass and mirrors because they were a reflection of the soul. The God’s looked at us through it. That’s why breaking a mirror was a big no-no.

Or take shooting start. Our ancestors figured they were a sign that the God’s were looking down at that time. Is there a better time to ask for a wish than when you know God is looking?

Not walking under ladders? Egyptians left ladders near tombs, so the spirits could go to heaven. Do not disturb!

I always thought that the origins of superstitions is linear. You observe an event happening after another, and make a connection. Let the same thing happen a couple of times, and you got a superstition spreading. You see a black cross the street, 10 seconds later you get run over. That happens a couple of times and there you go, superstition created. But it seems a more rational than that (considering the knowledge of the time). I bet some habits we all have on nowadays will look very stupid once science advances.

Psychology of superstition

We’re all superstitious. Some people more, some people less. Admit it: you’ve knocked on wood, avoided going under a ladder, or flinched at the idea of a witch putting a spell on you. Why is this?

There’s a couple of elements to it. Here are some:

The need for control. We get the impression that there is something we can do about events that are outside our control.

For example: in Spain, it’s usual to touch the table with the glass before drinking liquor. If you don’t, you’re not having sex that day. Does it work? Probably not. What is does do, though, is give the impression that there’s something being done to move towards that goal. It’s controlling the destiny.

Superstition is a way for us to reduce anxiety in a world filled with uncertainty.

It’s also useful if we want to explain events or behaviors that would otherwise be too complicated to unravel. A good example for that would be star signs.

Why try to understand someone’s behavior, when it can be explained with the fact that they are a Tauro? And if he’s not a Tauro, it’s because he’s Libra rising. Or Virgo ascendant? I don’t know.

Another psychological factor to consider is that our brain loves to recognize patterns. It loves it so much, that it often recognizes patterns and associations that do not exist in reality.

And don’t forget we humans have a tendency to believe in higher forces. Superstitions play into that.

Most superstitions being quite harmless (and the potential reward/punishment high), so we figure it can’t harm much to play with them. At least in the little ones.

Can’t harm to knock on wood. Even if it only is to make us feel a bit safer.

The Role of Superstition in Everyday Life

It should be clear, that the only way superstitions can affect us is psychologically. And in nearly all cases, superstitions doesn’t impact us at all. It’s important in the moment, but a minute later it’s out of our minds again. So, most superstition can be approached like mindfulness teacher want you to approach thoughts: neither good nor bad, they just are.

The thing is, superstitions can have kind of a placebo effect. You might go into a job interview with that extra confidence because you feel lucky for some reason. It will help.

It’s like Harry pretending to pour Felix Felicis into Ron’s drink.

I’ve wrote about the Alter Ego before. The perception of who we are can change how we confront situations. Superstitions can work in the same way. That’s why many sport-starts have their superstitions, or rituals.

But this is a double-edge sword. The same way that superstition can promote a positive mental attitude, they can also promote a negative one. Or it can promote a positive mental attitude in the wrong circumstances. Take gambling. Gamblers thinking the stars are aligning today, and they should push their luck, are not in for a good ride.

All in all, unless they put you in a negative mind frame, supersitions are harmless. If someone wants to believe that certain things give them good luck, that’s cool. I like to see that.

Now, on a collective level I do find it fascinating, and somehow irrational. The fact that many airplanes and buildings skip n.13 when numbering will always seem funny to me.

It’s one of those things that are fine when done on an individual level are fine. But we shouldn’t let it creep into public interactions.

Much like slippers.