Supertition When it Attacks us Psychologically
The psychology of superstition has been accompanying humanity since we have consciousness. There have always been superstitious behaviors. In fact, each culture has its own. For example, in some areas of Russia breaking a piece of crockery is a good omen. It is as if each superstition had some kind of utility in day to day life.
In our culture we have several latent superstitions that act stealthily. We all know someone who points out the amount of bad luck that comes with crossing a black cat or breaking a mirror. The paradox is that, although there is no logical or scientific argument to sustain them, those people who really have these beliefs tend to condition their lives based on them. In some cases they can be small gestures of little importance, but in others they can become real chained rituals.
What is superstition?
Superstition is the belief in an association without any consensual arguments to support it. That is to say, to believe that to take a leg of rabbit in the key ring brings good luck. There is no evidence that this is the case, but some people do. More examples of superstitions:
- Make a wish by witnessing a shooting star.
- Bring a four leaf clover with you to attract good luck.
- Cross your fingers when we express a desire for it to be fulfilled.
- When getting out of bed, step on the right foot with the thought that the day will be easier.
- Attribute good luck to objects like a horseshoe.
- Woman making a wish when passing a shooting star
Normally, superstitions try to bring good luck closer or ward off bad luck. They are a (supposed) way of attracting success or frightening away failure. We think that performing these behaviors will make life easier for us and provide us with money, love or success. Although there are a series of global superstitions, each person can develop theirs.
What is the origin of superstition?
The principle that underlies the psychology of superstition is the so-called operant conditioning identified by B. F. Skinner. For this, he started working with pigeons. When these animals pressed a button inside their cage, they were given food.
With the passage of time, they "learned" that the button gave them food, so they activated it when they were hungry. Later, the system changed. In such a way that, when the pigeons performed certain movements, they received reinforcement. As a final result, they incorporated "superstitious behaviors" related to the movements with the intention of obtaining the reward.
Well, this is very similar to what happens in humans with superstitions. A person can associate a positive or negative consequence with a specific behavior. If, for example, we go to an exam with a specific shirt and we obtain a good result, it is possible that to the following exams we go with the same garment.
There are also other phenomena that favor superstition, such as self-fulfilling prophecy or confirmation bias. This bias directs people's attention to those data / events that confirm the starting hypothesis, ignoring or paying little attention to those who do not. Thus, if we believe in the superstition of the cat and that day we have crossed it, it is easy to blame that encounter of all the negative that happens to us during the day, associating the positive with other causes.
Problems of superstition
Usually superstition is not bad in itself. They are simply a set of beliefs that inhabit our mind. However, if they can become a problem when they reach certain levels:
- You can get to depend on an object or amulet to the point of not feeling safe without it.
- Superstition clouds thinking and guides it towards the belief of sciences or methods with low reliability. For example, the horoscope.
- Our performance may be affected if we have not performed certain rituals.
All this raises the levels of anxiety and diminishes confidence in our abilities. To depend on such an object or behavior underestimates the ability we have to achieve things for ourselves. It is a subtle way of taking away merit and diverting it to something that does not have it.
How to fight superstition?
The best way to fight against superstition is by using the power of our mind. Acquiring a critical attitude towards the associations that we establish and with which we operate is a good factor of protection against this type of conviction. Selective proactivity limits and refines the number of ideas that govern us, so that indirectly our freedom increases.
Exposing yourself to situations in which you may feel helpless for not wearing your amulets is a good way to mitigate the anxiety it generates. In the end, superstition is nothing more than a belief and not a law of nature. That is why it is also important to learn to control anxiety, not only for cases of superstition, but also for life in general.
By way of conclusion, it is probable that superstition - and therefore the psychology of superstition - accompanies us, as a species, forever. Its benefits can be several: how to reduce uncertainty or increase the sense of control. On the other hand, the negative part appears when it limits us or generates anxiety.
Superstition is seen as "supernatural" hoo haa, however the placebo effect is a scientific term which in essence applies the same principals which scientifically backed data supporting its existence.
What should be the focus here is the power of the mind to be able to create such an effect on , not only the thought patterns and the positive expression and impact on life, but also on the physiological element of the human condition.
What this indicates is that it is not the item itself, ie the rabbit foot or the sugar pill, which creates the desired result, but the person themselves. The item merely supports the individual by giving them the confidence and belief necessary to achieve their goal.
This can also work counter productively, if the person believes they will fail if they do not have their luck item, or think they are receiving a placebo instead of the legitimate medicine.
Your post was upvoted by the Copes Upvote Initiative. My account was delegated 5000SP for one month by Make a Minnow on the P.A.L Network. This has increased my voting power to more than 10 times what it normally is, with some assistance of my Superfriends over on Helpie the Copes Upvote Initiative was created for a limited time, please check out the programs which made this possible and for your chance to be selected to have 5000SP delegated to you.
Much love in your direction
~ Cope
mfxae86 very good explanation the suspicions is based on the belief.
"What should be the focus here is the power of the mind to be able to create such an effect"
He is right everything is in our mind although bad luck is based on our negative thinking and good luck in positive thinking I usually do not believe in supertition since I have a black cat and it has not gone badly in my life.
This post was created because my friend and I were talking about the supertitions and the subject seemed interesting to me ..
A question how can I get 5000 sp like you?
We can never discount the power of the mind :) our belif can result in self fulfilling prophecies
in regards to the 5k SP delegation. join the PAL network, then register, you will be part of the community. This gives you lots of perks, like an upvote bot, a place to share your posts and articles etc. Spend time interacting with the community, listen to the radio shows, chat in the rooms, make friends, this will help you grow your network and account. you will be voted in to the Make a Minnow project by your peers/ the community. this is how i was given the 5k SP boost for one month, which actually just ended today for me, but it was a great ride :) Someone else now has the privilege of taking the reigns for a month :) much love
thank you friend and I joined that community .. I will interact to see if I can make more friends.
the MSP waves broadcast room and mspwaves audience chat room are good places to interact with people and listen to the live radio shows :) pop in and say hi, all the peeps are real friendly :)
I joined but I could not interact due to lack of time .. for this weekend I will interact with them.
All good mate, when you get the chance :) just be yourself, make friends and go from there , great communities is what makes the steemit world go around :)
Good read, thank you!
Nice post ! You got 14.96% upvote from @flymehigh. Earn free sbd/steem daily by delegating(renting) your SP. We share high return, click here to delegate your sp to flymehigh if you don't know, how to earn passive income by delegating your SP click here for more info Join our discord You can promote your posts. Thanks.
Hi @joelgonz1982!
Your post was upvoted by @steem-ua, new Steem dApp, using UserAuthority for algorithmic post curation! Your UA account score is currently 2.555 which ranks you at #14956 across all Steem accounts.
Your rank has dropped 11 places in the last three days.
In our last Algorithmic Curation Round, consisting of 206 contributions, your post is ranked at #189.
Evaluation of your UA score:
Feel free to join our @steem-ua Discord server