A large number of people around the world still avoid walking under ladders, leap over cracks to prevent stepping on them, and put on a lucky sweater before an especially important meeting — these individuals are superstitious. In fact, there is nothing shameful about this, as countless people have adhered to superstitions for millennia — scientific evidence of superstitious behavior dates back to the 4th century BC, according to Popular Science.
For centuries, philosophers have mocked superstitious individuals, portraying them as foolish and irrational. This perception persists to this day: superstitions are not scientific or rational and have no bearing on the outcomes of events. Yet, many people across the globe continue to avoid ladders and jump over cracks. Why?
Psychologists agree that superstitions are largely tied to a sense of control. People naturally want to avoid the worst outcomes and achieve the best possible results. Science also indicates that in situations where the outcome is predetermined, individuals are actually less likely to be superstitious. However, in circumstances where chance plays a significant role, individuals tend to resort to superstition.
But is there a scientific explanation for this? A group of researchers from Germany conducted an experiment to examine the impact of superstitions on luck. They designed a study to see how superstitions influence participants' results in a series of tasks, including how well participants performed on two timed tests:
Before the experiment began, each participant was called and asked to bring a personal lucky charm. Then, before each test, approximately half of them were asked to put away their charms. The results showed that those who were allowed to keep their charms felt more confident. Interestingly, they also performed better on the tests — suggesting that superstitions may indeed enhance a person's belief in their own talents and abilities. In simple terms, superstitions seem to have tangible benefits.