Superstition, the irrational belief in supernatural forces and their impact on human affairs, has persisted throughout history and across cultures. Despite advances in science and rational thought, superstitions continue to influence the behaviour of individuals and societies, sometimes with unfortunate results. Why are they still so widespread and so persistent? It seems that superstitions emerge in all human societies from a coming together of psychological, cultural and historical factors.

Firstly, humans have an innate desire to exert control over their environment, especially in uncertain or dangerous situations. Superstitions offer a perceived sense of control and give people the idea that they can find some degree of predictability amidst the unpredictable. In cases where the outcome cannot possibly be known, such as the result of an important job interview, anything which may be taken as a sign of good luck (such as a black cat crossing your path) can suggest success. So, if a (black) cat does cross the path of someone on their way to an interview, they might perform better than usual. That is because, having noticed the cat and being aware of its supposed significance, on a subconscious level, they believed the omen.

Secondly, humans evolved to look for order in the world around them, as this skill was crucial for survival in early human history. Understanding seasonal weather patterns, for example, enabled them to plan their agriculture. Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher, recognised this when he referred to man as ‘a pattern maker’. However, this tendency to detect patterns can lead to false associations and beliefs, giving rise to superstitions. If someone happened to be wearing a particular item of clothing when they passed an important exam, perhaps they would put it on the next time they really needed to succeed in something. The association of the item of clothing and the exam success is what psychologists call confirmation bias, which is the tendency to pay attention to cases which confirm an idea we previously held, but ignore or fail to notice times when outcomes go against what the superstition said should happen e.g. the times when the item of clothing failed to confer success.

One means by which superstitions get reinforced is through the media, both in factual reporting and fictional narrative. Newspapers and TV news channels love to find coincidences which appear to confirm one of a society’s superstitious fears or hopes. A person who has a minor accident shortly after walking under a ladder is a better story to end a newscast with than a person who simply has an unfortunate accident. Similarly, comedy programmes in British society sometimes feature the (unlucky) number 13 to set up a cheap joke. It is unlikely that the superstition focused on in each instance is believed by the programme maker or the comedy scriptwriter, but it is a convenient device to frame a story and thus ensure that the superstition remains current in the society.

As soon as we are forced to confront a belief in a superstition, there is a tendency to see such a belief as necessarily a foolish, perhaps bad, thing. However, engaging in superstitious rituals can lessen anxiety. Such rituals can provide emotional support during challenging times, allowing for a sense of hope and optimism. In this way, they can be a coping mechanism, instilling confidence and boosting morale, even when there is no objective reason for such feelings. Many of the things in the future which the average human fears in normal everyday life never actually occur. So if superstition can stop people worrying about the future so much, it is, psychologically, a good thing. As Mark Twain once said, ‘I have lived a life of troubles, most of which never happened.’

Superstitions often form part of shared cultural narratives. Children are introduced to common superstitions from an early age, being told, for example, to throw salt over the shoulder if any is spilt on the table, or to touch wood for good luck if they have just hoped for something good to happen. Once a superstition takes hold in a community, small or large, it becomes deeply embedded in cultural traditions, passed down through generations. Certainly, my children learnt many superstitions at home while growing up, as I did from my parents, though I am reasonably sure they did not believe in them any more than I do.