Superstitions Like Gossip…

Are you superstitious?

Superstitions are like gossip; neither true, false, correct, or incorrect, yet they serve a very important function in solidifying the foundations of cultural values and identities.

Interestingly, humans are selectively superstitious. When they know and understand the dynamics of an event or outcome, they are rarely superstitious.

It would seem like superstitions are indicative of the human tendency to use denial as a coping mechanism, and in some other cases, being superstitious may be a show of inability or unwillingness to think things through, especially if there’s a need to take responsibility for an adverse situation.

Sometimes, it is difficult to draw the line between superstition as a cultural trait and superstition as a symptom of a mental health condition. This is why it is important to make knowledge of cultural norms and beliefs an important part of studying psychology or psychiatry, especially in a place like America which is a melting pot of cultural identities.

However, we must acknowledge that there are many phenomena in the world that no body of science or art has been able to decipher. In cases like this, we have superstitions to thank because it serves to establish the observation of such phenomena by a significant number of people. This serves as a prompt upon which researchers can build hypotheses and consequently develop a body of knowledge around it.

Of superstitions and being superstitious, one thing is evident: where knowledge ends, superstitions begin. The more knowledgeable we become, the less likely we are to be superstitious.

Having read this perspective, do you think this author is superstitious? Have your say!