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Why Do Superstitions Feel So Good?

Why Do Superstitions Feel So Good?

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Are you like Kurt, stuck wearing a pair of 'lucky socks' every time your team plays, no matter what the outcome of the game turns out to be? In this month's bonus, we explore why we hold onto superstitions, like lucky socks, even when we know they don't work. From BF Skinner's pigeons to social identity theory, we unpack the behavioral science behind our game-day rituals, however irrational, and discuss the sense of agency, control, and belonging that they create.

Topics

[0:00] Intro: Kurt's Lucky Socks

[3:38] The Placebo Effect

[7:27] Mistaking Correlation for Causation

[11:58] Social Identity and Group Belonging

[16:34] The Psychological Benefits of Superstitions

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.