Why Do We Believe in Superstitions Like Friday the 13th?

Have you ever felt a sense of unease on Friday the 13th, or perhaps wondered why your favorite sports team's fans always seem to have a few "lucky" rituals? Superstitions are fascinating and pervasive, yet often irrational and illogical. But why do we believe in them, despite knowing they don't make sense? "Superstitions come in all shapes and sizes," notes David Kling, a professor in the University of Miami's religious studies department. "In sports, baseball rituals are rife; or consider that Michael Jordan wore his UNC shorts under NBA shorts for his entire career; or consider that hockey players refuse to shave during playoffs—at least as long as their team is winning." Superstitions may be irrational, but they're deeply ingrained in human behavior. And, surprisingly, even self-declared atheists tend to exhibit superstitious tendencies. In one study, participants were found to believe they had control over events, even when it was impossible, such as influencing the outcome of a basketball game or believing they'd harmed someone by sticking pins in a voodoo doll. So, why do we cling to superstitions despite their apparent lack of logic? According to Kling, it's because we're wired to believe in supernatural consequences. We want to feel like we have control over events, even when we don't. This is especially true when we're facing high-stakes situations, uncertainty, or lack of control.

But are superstitions just harmless fun, or do they actually have an impact on our lives? Kling suggests that they play a crucial role in managing supernatural reward and punishment. We may not believe in the literal truth of our superstitions, but we do believe that they have some influence on the world. The notion of "falsifiability" is an interesting one in this context. According to Catherine Newell, an associate professor in the religious studies department, this concept originated with philosopher Karl Popper, who sought to distinguish science from pseudoscience. Popper believed that a scientific theory could be proven wrong, whereas superstitions lack this test. In other words, when it comes to superstitions, it's impossible to prove or disprove their effectiveness. Wearing lucky socks to a sports game may make you feel more confident, but there's no way to know if it actually had an impact on the outcome. As we explore the world of superstitions, it's essential to ask ourselves: what are the underlying psychological, social, and cultural forces driving our beliefs? And what are the consequences of our actions, whether driven by superstition or not?

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