Why We Believe: The Psychology of Superstitions

Have you ever heard that breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck or that making a wish at 11:11 will make it come true? People all over the world believe in different superstitions, and these beliefs have been passed down for generations. But why do so many people believe in them? One big reason is that our brains are always searching for patterns. Imagine you have a favorite shirt. One day, you wear it, and something great happens—you win a game, get a compliment, or have an amazing day. Then, a few weeks later, you wear the same shirt again, and once more, something lucky happens. Even though it might just be a coincidence, your brain connects the two events and decides that the shirt must be lucky. The more often this happens, the more you believe in the power of the shirt. You might start wearing it on important days, like before a big test or a competition, just to make sure your luck stays with you.
Now, think about lucky charms like coins or a bracelet, not the cereal. Let’s say someone gives you a small charm, like a bracelet or a coin, and you start carrying it around. At first, it’s just another object, but then, little by little, things start going well for you. You find some money on the ground, get free ice cream, or have an unexpectedly fun day. Because all these good things happened while you had the charm, you might believe it’s the reason for your good luck. Even if nothing magical is happening, just believing that the charm works can make you feel more confident and positive, which can actually lead to better outcomes.
Superstitions may seem silly, but believing in them might actually come from something deep inside us—our survival instincts. A long time ago, humans had to make quick decisions to stay safe. If someone heard a rustling in the bushes and ran away, they might have avoided danger, even if it was just the wind. Over time, people learned to connect random events to protect themselves, and this habit stayed with us. That’s why even today, we might believe in superstitions, even when they don’t have real proof behind them.
Superstitions can also affect how we see the world. When we expect good things to happen because of a lucky object or action, we start noticing every small good thing that happens and connect it to our belief. On the other hand, if something bad happens when we forget our lucky charm, we might blame it on that, even if it was just a random event. This is how superstitions grow stronger in our minds.
Even though there’s no real proof that lucky objects or superstitions have special powers, they can still have a big effect on our thoughts and feelings. Sometimes, just believing in luck can make us feel more confident and in control. And who knows? Maybe that lucky charm or good-luck ritual isn’t magic—but if it makes you feel better, maybe that’s the real power behind superstitions.