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PODCAST

The Psychology of Superstition

This podcast explores why people believe in superstitions, using insights from cognitive psychology, behavioral science, and cultural anthropology. Each episode delves into different aspects of superstition, from historical origins to modern manifestations, and examines psychological research on belief formation, pattern recognition, and the human need for control.

society & culture social sciences

All Episodes

5:12

Food and Fate — Superstitions at the Table

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/11/05

This episode explores the connection between food and superstition—how everyday meals become rituals of luck, protection, and meaning. From tossing salt over the shoulder and avoiding upright chopsticks to eating twelve grapes for New Year’s luck, these customs reveal how humans use food to control uncertainty. Psychology explains them through magical thinking, reinforcement bias, and the emotional comfort of shared rituals. Whether at weddings, funerals, or daily meals, food superstitions reflect

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5:15

Lucky and Unlucky Days — When Time Itself Feels Cursed

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/10/29

This episode explores humanity’s fascination with lucky and unlucky days, from Friday the 13th and the fear of the number 4 to the celebration of the number 8 and auspicious dates. It explains how psychological mechanisms like pattern perception, confirmation bias, and the illusion of control lead people to assign meaning to random dates and events. The episode shows how culture, religion, and emotion shape our relationship with time, turning calendars into systems of hope and caution. Ultimately,

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5:06

Death and the Supernatural — Rituals, Spirits, and...

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/10/23

This episode explores superstitions surrounding death and the afterlife, from covering mirrors and stopping clocks to offering food and light for the dead. It explains how such rituals emerged as ways to manage fear, grief, and the unknown, giving psychological order to loss. Concepts like ambiguous loss, magical thinking, and the fear of contagion reveal how humans use symbolic acts to protect themselves and stay connected to loved ones. Ultimately, the episode concludes that death-related

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4:46

Mirrors — Portals, Reflections, and Seven Years of...

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/10/17

This episode explores the deep-rooted superstitions surrounding mirrors, from the belief that breaking one brings seven years of bad luck to fears of mirrors trapping souls or acting as portals to other realms. Drawing on ancient Roman traditions, folklore, and psychological phenomena like the “strange-face illusion,” the episode explains how mirrors trigger both self-reflection and unease. Ultimately, it argues that mirror superstitions are less about the glass itself and more about how humans

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4:44

Weather Superstitions — Reading Fate in the Sky

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/10/11

This episode explores how humans interpret weather as signs of luck, fate, or divine messages. From the belief that rain on a wedding day brings good fortune to the fear of thunder as a spiritual warning, weather superstitions reveal our attempt to find meaning in nature’s unpredictability. Psychology explains these beliefs through pattern recognition, anthropomorphism, and the need for emotional comfort in moments we cannot control. Ultimately, the episode concludes that weather omens are less

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4:27

Animal Omens — Black Cats, Ravens, and Other...

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/10/04

This episode explores the role of animals in superstition, showing how creatures like black cats, ravens, owls, and storks have been transformed into symbols of luck, death, or destiny. It explains how illusory correlation, projection, and cultural storytelling turn ordinary animal behavior into omens. While some animals are feared as bringers of misfortune, others are celebrated as symbols of prosperity and protection. Even in modern times, animal omens persist in folklore, popular culture, and

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4:56

Witchcraft — Fear, Power, and the Human Imagination

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/09/27

This episode examines the belief in witchcraft, tracing its presence across cultures and history. It explains how accusations of witchcraft often arose in times of fear and uncertainty, offering people explanations and scapegoats for misfortune. Psychology sheds light on witchcraft as a product of projection, illusory correlations, and confirmation bias, while mass hysteria and social control fueled infamous witch hunts like Salem. The episode also explores the continuing influence of witchcraft

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3:54

Astrology — Fate Written in the Stars

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/09/20

This episode examines the enduring appeal of astrology, the belief that the positions of stars and planets influence personality and destiny. It traces astrology’s ancient roots in Mesopotamia, Greece, and beyond, showing how it shaped decisions for rulers and societies. Psychology explains its appeal through the Barnum effect, confirmation bias, and the sense of identity and belonging it provides. Astrology also satisfies the human desire for order and control in an unpredictable world

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4:20

Gambling Superstitions — Luck, Chance, and the...

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/09/12

This episode examines the role of superstition in gambling, from kissing dice to clinging to lucky numbers. It explains the illusion of control, where players believe their actions influence random outcomes, and the gambler’s fallacy, the false idea that past results affect future ones. Rituals reduce anxiety, but they can also fuel risk-taking and losses. The episode highlights how casinos exploit these beliefs with design tricks and cultural symbols of luck. Ultimately, it concludes that

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4:10

Cursed Objects — When Things Carry Misfortune

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/09/04

This episode examines the belief in cursed objects—ordinary items thought to bring misfortune or tragedy. From famous examples like the Hope Diamond to haunted chairs and artifacts, it explores how stories and cultural narratives transform simple objects into symbols of doom. Psychology explains these fears through confirmation bias, the nocebo effect, and contagion theory, where objects are believed to absorb negative energy from people or events. The episode highlights how storytelling reinforces

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04:55

Dreams as Omens — Do Our Night Visions Predict the...

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/08/26

This episode explores the long-standing belief that dreams serve as omens or prophetic signs. From ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece to religious and cultural traditions worldwide, dreams have been seen as messages from gods, spirits, or the future. Psychology, however, explains them as products of memory, emotion, and subconscious processing during REM sleep. People often view dreams as predictive because of pattern recognition, apophenia, and memory bias, recalling only those that seem to

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04:54

Omens — Reading Signs in the World Around Us

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/08/18

This episode explores the enduring belief in omens—signs interpreted as messages about the future. From Roman augury to Chinese eclipse traditions, history shows that humans have long sought meaning in natural events. Psychology explains omens through pattern recognition and apophenia, as well as our need for control in uncertain situations. Cultural differences reveal how the same sign can mean good or bad depending on the society, while confirmation bias and self-fulfilling prophecy

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04:43

Lucky Charms — The Psychology of Magical Objects

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/08/08

This episode explores the psychology behind lucky charms—ordinary objects believed to bring good fortune or protection. It examines how personal history, associative conditioning, and contagion theory give charms their meaning, and how they can boost confidence through a placebo effect. The episode also looks at cultural traditions worldwide, the role of charms as identity markers, and the risk of becoming dependent on them. Ultimately, it concludes that the real “magic” lies in the belief and

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04:45

Haunted Houses — Why We Fear Certain Places

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/07/31

This episode explores why certain places feel haunted and how psychological factors shape our fear of them. It examines concepts like pareidolia, the expectancy effect, emotional associations, and environmental triggers such as infrasound and poor air quality. Haunted places, it argues, reflect our fear of the unknown, heightened by storytelling and cultural conditioning. Whether or not ghosts are real, the fear they evoke is rooted in how our brains perceive and respond to unfamiliar or emotionally

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04:27

The Evil Eye — Envy, Belief, and the Fear of Being...

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/07/22

This episode explores the widespread belief in the evil eye—the idea that envy or a malicious gaze can cause misfortune. Tracing its origins across cultures, the episode explains how the fear of envy led to protective symbols like the nazar and Hamsa. It examines the psychological roots of this belief, including magical thinking and social regulation, showing how the evil eye reflects human concerns about attention, pride, and vulnerability in relationships.

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04:47

The Curse Effect - Do We Really Believe in Hexes?

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/07/12

This episode explores the psychology behind curses, focusing on the nocebo effect, confirmation bias, and cultural reinforcement. It argues that belief—not magic—gives curses their power, causing real stress and harm. Through examples like the Curse of the Pharaohs, the episode shows how fear and expectation shape experience, and how rituals of healing can restore control.

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04:24

Friday the 13th - How a Date Became a Global Symbol...

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/06/28

This episode uncovers the origins of the Friday the 13th superstition, tracing its roots through Norse mythology, Christian tradition, and historical events. It explores how literature, psychology, and pop culture—especially horror films—have reinforced the date’s ominous reputation. Despite its dark image, the episode also highlights how some cultures embrace the day positively, revealing how belief, not the calendar, gives Friday the 13th its meaning.

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04:49

When Belief Becomes a Burden - Superstition and...

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/06/17

This episode explores when superstition becomes harmful, focusing on its connection to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It explains how repetitive, anxiety-driven rituals can cross from harmless habits into compulsive behaviors, especially in cases of magical thinking or magical OCD. The episode also discusses treatment options like cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication, emphasizing the importance of recognizing when belief turns into burden—and how recovery is possible.

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05:07

Born Lucky? The Psychology Behind Feeling Fortunate

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/05/30

This episode explores whether luck is a real force or simply a mindset. It discusses Dr. Richard Wiseman’s research showing that self-identified lucky people are more open, optimistic, and alert to opportunities. Concepts like the self-fulfilling prophecy and cultural beliefs about luck are examined, revealing that our perception and behavior play a major role in how “lucky” we feel. The episode concludes that luck isn’t magic—it’s how we choose to see and act in the world.

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04:02

Game-Day Rituals - Why Athletes and Fans Are So...

The Psychology of Superstition ·

2025/05/17

This episode explores why athletes and fans are among the most superstitious people. It examines the psychological benefits of rituals, like increased confidence and reduced anxiety, and explains concepts like the placebo effect, confirmation bias, and contagion theory. From Michael Jordan’s lucky shorts to fan traditions like the "Terrible Towel," the episode reveals how superstition can shape performance, identity, and community in the world of sports.

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24 results

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