Introduction

Get ready to discover the cultural superstitions around the world and find out whether they’re just beliefs or have a scientific basis. Discover reasons why cultural superstitions exist in an era of science, and disprove the myths and reveal the psychological gains and historical roots that continue to keep the old myths alive.

Cultural Superstitions Around The World

Cultural superstitions are not only universal to humans, but they can be likened to any black cat evading a trip in London, or nail-cutting at night in Mumbai. However, despite living in an era of the most significant scientific development, almost all societies still practice irrational rituals. What is so much about banging wood or being afraid of 13? The solution is the struggle between science and belief.

Superstitions are not just what old wives tell us, but also ingrained psychological processes for dealing with uncertainty. These behaviours are considered cognitive biases in the scientific community. Still, to the believer, they provide a sense of control over an uncertain world, a history marked by superstition, and scientific explanations for why our brains are programmed to believe in the supernatural.

Why Do We Believe? The Science of “Patternicity”

The desire to discover significant patterns within random, meaningless noise is what modern science calls Patternicity.

• The “Belief Engine”: Neuroscientists posit that the human brain is a belief engine. Human beings are engineered to be cause-and-effect oriented.
• The Illusion of Control: In high-stress contexts, such as exams or sporting activities, a lucky ritual lessens anxiety, and this anxiety reduces the performance, which ends up as a self-fulfilling prophecy that strengthens the belief.

Walking Under a Ladder: Sacred Triangles or Safety Hazards?

In the West, it is believed that walking under a ladder is an invitation to bad luck. However, some people do not feel like doing so simply because it is a custom.

• The Belief: In early Christianity, an angel leaned against a wall, and a triangle formed. The triangle was meant to signify the Holy Trinity. Stepping into that triangle was considered desecration or being a devil.
• The Science: Principally, it is a safety hazard to walk under a ladder. Objects (or workers) can fall out of it. According to science, this superstition could have been created as a social hack to keep humans out of construction areas where there was no caution tape.

Breaking a Mirror: The Seven-Year Soul Fracture

One of the most enduring myths is that breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck.

• The Belief: The ancient Romans thought that a mirror not only reflected your face but your soul. To break the glass was to snap the health out of the soul. Why seven years? Romans believed the human body physically regenerated after seven years; hence, they believed healing occurred after seven years, which was the period it took the broken soul to regenerate.
• The Science: In the past, mirrors were very costly and were composed of silvered glass. The homogeneous event must have been some sort of financial caution. When a servant shattered a mirror, that was usually equivalent to seven years’ pay. This is nowadays perceived by psychologists as Confirmation Bias. When you smash a mirror, you tend to attribute any slight inconvenience in the following week to the curse and overlook the positive things that occur.

The “Evil Eye” and the Power of Envy

Across the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and South Asia, the Evil Eye (Nazar) is a potent cultural force. It is the belief that a malicious glare fueled by envy can cause physical harm or misfortune.

Black Cats: Witch Companions or Misunderstood Pets?

In America and most of Europe, it is considered a sign of bad luck when a black cat crosses your path. This myth reached its height in the Middle Ages, when black cats were associated with witches and the black arts.

Scientific Reality: In most other cultures, black cats are literally good fortune. In Japan, they are believed to bring love to unmarried women, and in Scottish folklore, a black cat on your doorstep is a good omen. Science confirms the colour of the cat fur is simply a genetic issue. Moreover, it is not associated in any way with the result of your day- unless you are allergic!

Conclusion: Finding the Balance

It is not the fight between science and belief where one side is right and the other is wrong. Superstitions form a rich hue in the history of humankind. They are comforting in the face of disorder and bring us into contact with our forebears. Where science gives us the how, superstition usually gives us the why on an individual level. Therefore, knowing the causes of these beliefs helps us to value our culture without fear. 

References

Culture