Why do people believe in the superstitions although they know it's not true??
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Answer:
Believing Superstitions That You Know Aren't True
Cover of Psychological Review (small)Usually, when people recognize that a belief they hold is mistaken they try to correct it. But when it comes to superstitious beliefs, many people feel that they are "of two minds." Even those who claim not to be superstitious, for example, may be reluctant to utter the phrase "no-hitter" during the 8th inning of a baseball game or name their baby before he or she is born. How can people believe things that they know aren't true?
Traditionally, research on superstition has focused on people's cognitive shortcomings. But superstitions are not limited to individuals with cognitive deficits; there are many smart, educated, emotionally stable adults who have superstitions too. So why are superstitious beliefs pervasive and what can that tell us about the way that people think more broadly?
First, she suggests that we can improve our understanding of superstition by considering the interaction between our "fast" and "slow" systems of thinking. Fast and slow, or "dual process models" of cognition, propose that one set of mental processes operates quickly and automatically to provide an initial intuitive judgment, while the other operates slowly and deliberately and is responsible for overriding intuitive judgments when it detects an error. A dual process account can help explain why superstitious thinking is widespread. It can also tell us why particular superstitions are formed and not others, and why superstitious beliefs are maintained even though they are not true.
Second, Risen suggests that to explain why superstitious beliefs are maintained even when people know they are not true, the existing model must be refined. People who hold superstitious beliefs and engage in actions that reflect those beliefs often realize — in the moment — that their thoughts and behaviors are irrational. Thus, the model must allow for the possibility that people can recognize that their intuitive judgment is wrong and believe it anyway.
Most models of judgment and decision making don't allow for this possibility — they assume that when an error is detected it will be corrected. Risen notes that this is not always the case. Sports fans wearing a lucky shirt in their living room, for example, may recognize that their shirt cannot affect play on the field and yet still feel more optimistic about the game when they wear it. Thus, she offers a modification to the model, explicitly separating error detection from error correction. With the modified model, sports fans can detect an error in their intuitive judgment, but fail to correct it nevertheless.
Although superstitious beliefs are often harmless, the argument for separating error detection and error correction applies beyond superstition. And, if people can benefit from correcting faulty beliefs, then it is important to recognize error detection and error correction as separate processes because fixing an error effectively depends on understanding where things are breaking down.
Sometimes the problem is not that people lack the information needed to recognize that they are making errors but that they are unable — or unwilling — to correct them.
Why You Believe in Superstitions—Even Though You Know They’re Not True
Whether you’re wary of Friday the 13th or you have a lucky pair of socks you throw on for important meetings, even the most rational person can sometimes believe in a seemingly silly superstition. You know the belief is untrue (no, the socks won’t actually ensure that you get the promotion), but your superstition still influences your thoughts and behavior. New research from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business has an explanation: it seems your brain is unable to reverse that irrational thinking.
Associate professor Jane Risen, who led the university study, explained that the brain has two processes when it comes to irrational thought. The brain first has to process the thought, and then separately has to correct it. The correction process is termed “acquiescence,” and it doesn’t automatically follow the detection of an irrational belief. The findings will be published in the upcoming issue of Psychological Review.
Given this insight into cognitive function, it makes sense why even the smartest, most logical adults might still believe in a bit of magic.
Explanation:
The number 13, black cats, breaking mirrors, or walking under ladders, may all be things you actively avoid—if you’re anything like the 25% of people in the US who consider themselves superstitious.
Even if you don’t consider yourself a particularly superstitious person, you probably say “bless you” when someone sneezes, just in case the devil should decide to steal their soul—as our ancestors thought possible during a sneeze.
Superstition also explains why many buildings do not have a 13th floor—preferring to label it 14, 14A 12B or M (the 13th letter of the alphabet) on elevator button panels because of concerns about superstitious tenants. Indeed, 13% of people in one survey indicated that staying on the 13th floor of a hotel would bother them—and 9% said they would ask for a different room.
On top of this, some airlines such as Air France and Lufthansa, do not have a 13th row. Lufthansa also has no 17th row—because in countries like Italy and Brazil—the typical unlucky number is 17 and not 13.
What is superstition?
Although there is no single definition of superstition, it generally means a belief in supernatural forces—such as fate—the desire to influence unpredictable factors and a need to resolve uncertainty. In this way then, individual beliefs and experiences drive superstitions, which explains why they are generally irrational and often defy current scientific wisdom.
Psychologists who have investigated what role superstitions play, have found that they derive from the assumption that a connection exists between co-occurring, non-related events. For instance, the notion that charms promote good luck, or protect you from bad luck.
For many people, engaging with superstitious behaviors provides a sense of control and reduces anxiety—which is why levels of superstition increase at times of stress and angst. This is particularly the case during times of economic crisis and social uncertainty—notably wars and conflicts. Indeed, researchers have observed how in Germany between 1918 and 1940 measures of economic threat correlated directly with measures of superstition.
Touch wood
Superstitious beliefs have been shown to help promote a positive mental attitude. Although they can lead to irrational decisions, such as trusting in the merits of good luck and destiny rather than sound decision making.
Carrying charms, wearing certain clothes, visiting places associated with good fortune, preferring specific colors and using particular numbers are all elements of superstition. And although these behaviors and actions can appear trivial, for some people, they can often affect choices made in the real world.
Superstitions can also give rise to the notion that objects and places are cursed. Such as the Annabelle the Doll—who featured in The Conjuring and two other movies—and is said to be inhabited by the spirit of a dead girl. A more traditional illustration is the Curse of the Pharaohs, which is said to be cast upon any person who disturbs the mummy of an Ancient Egyptian person—especially a pharaoh.
Numbers themselves can also often be associated with curses. For example, the figure 666 in a licence plate is often featured in stories of misfortune. The most famous case was the numberplate “ARK 666Y”, which is believed to have caused mysterious vehicle fires and “bad vibes” for passengers.
Planes stand on the tarmac during a pilots strike of German airline Lufthansa at Munich airport
REUTERS/MICHAEL DALDER
Lufthansa planes don’t have a 13th or 17th row due to people’s superstitions.
Sporting superstitions
Superstition is also highly prevalent within sport—especially in highly competitive situations. Four out of five professional athletes report engaging with at least one superstitious behavior prior to performance. Within sport, superstitions have been shown to reduce tension and provide a sense of control over unpredictable, chance factors.
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