Superstitions Exposed

Before we get started, lets take a look at some various examples via the Internet. The following is a list of some good reference sites listing many superstitions and some of the history that surrounds them.

• As an excellent reference for a list of superstitions in alphabetic order, see the Unusual Trivia Collection Superstitions: old wives tales, folklore, bizarre beliefs, taboos, omens, lucky & unlucky things found here.
• You’ll find a fairly similar list on the superstitions page of the Urban Legends & Superstitions site.
• For a very extensive list, subdivided into categories, see Superstitions.
• Another list of Common Superstitions can be found here.
• Wikipedia has a pretty good article about superstitions too.
• Now for the self proclaimed largest list of superstitions on the web see, Old Superstitions.
• You’ll find an interesting group of articles on the topic of various superstitions, both ancient and modern, indexed at this Crystalinks Superstition Index Page.
• You can find an interesting article about pigeons in captivity developing superstitious connections in: “Superstition: In The Pigeon by B. F. Skinner. This article reveals that even pigeons demonstrate the kind of magical thinking emblematic of making incorrect cause and effect connections as typified by superstitions. The pigeon test subjects were observed to become convinced that specific body motions were associated with causing a feeding bin to appear, when in reality the bin was set on a clock that presented it at specific timed intervals. Their body motions could be equated to a sort of rain dance, or in their case a food dance. That’s it, now hop three times on your left foot, while patting your right hand on your head, and juniper berries will magically appear. 

Example of Discarding Magical Thinking

Allow me to give an example in which I almost resorted to magical thinking, but rather persisted with experimentation and discovered the real cause and effect.

A few years back, I obtained a wireless door chime system for my home. When it came time to install the unit for the front door, I had two choices. Using adhesive pads, I could attach the unit to the brick wall next to the door, or I could attach it to the metal frame of the storm security door. My first instinct guided me to attach it to the brick wall, but then I noticed the mortar gap, which I thought would waste much of the adhesive surface. There was just enough room to adhere the button unit to the storm door frame. I had tested the unit several times before putting it in place, but after attaching it to the door frame, it didn’t function. I went back into the house and brought the chime unit to the door. Holding the chime just inside the door, I pushed the button. Nothing happened. Then I stepped outside and pushed the button several times, the chime in my hand worked sometimes, but rather intermittently. I was baffled. I then proceeded to remove the button unit from the door frame, thinking it would be my luck that as sure as I removed this thing from the door, it would probably start working again. As predicted, it did.