-superstitions are commonly described as irrational beliefs at odds with scientific knowledge of the world. Wikipedia
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:23
I write this blog on Friday the 13th. That conjures up for some people a day when bad things might happen. You know, one should not walk under a ladder, or break a mirror, or even step on a crack in the sidewalk. Don’t tempt fate!
Superstitions abound in the world, especially in the world of sports. Athletes as well as fans often perform obscure and bizarre behaviors to “ensure” that their team will win. There are untold numbers of such behaviors because there are so many unique things that people may do in order to not “jinx” their team. Why do such things exist? Well, they exist for several reasons, and those reasons are actually rooted in rational concepts.
Let’s say that your team is losing late in the football game, and the kicker is lining up for a game winning field goal. You hold your breath, tap your left shoulder and close your eyes. Lo and behold, the kick goes through and your team wins! The next game, your team’s kicker once again lines up for a field goal attempt. What might you do? You might hold your breath, tap your left shoulder, and close your eyes. Why? Well, it seemed to work last time and I can’t afford to take a chance this time!
No, it was not cause and effect about your behavior and the kicker’s success, but your behavior was reinforced from his success the last time. There was however a correlation between the two events, and that was enough to reinforce the superstition.
Beyond that, it gave the fan the feeling that he/she could actually do something to help the team. This lowers the anxiety that is felt by the fan. Remember, actions (a form of control) lower anxiety. So, we then have some logical reasons for illogical behavior.
Most superstitions are innocuous and can even be fun. However, it is good to note that they are often just a means of lowering anxiety. If we can actually recognize that at the root of most superstitions there is an underlying anxiety, we are better grounded in the reality of our own self-awareness.
So, if you have some superstitions, okay, just make sure you know the root of their existence.
Prayer: Lord, help us to give our anxieties to you, Amen
