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The Science of Superstition: Why Our Brains Believe in Magic

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Manage episode 515845762 series 2468001
Content provided by Kurt Nelson, PhD and Tim Houlihan, Kurt Nelson, and Tim Houlihan. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Kurt Nelson, PhD and Tim Houlihan, Kurt Nelson, and Tim Houlihan or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

This Halloween, we dive into the spooky science of superstition—why we knock on wood, wear lucky socks, and believe in things that defy logic. From the psychology of control and uncertainty to research on how superstition both stresses and strengthens us, we mix science, humor, and a dash of Stevie Wonder to show why “superstition ain’t the way.”

Topics

[0:00] Happy Halloween from Behavioral Grooves!

[2:08] Common superstitions and their rationality

[6:40] Psychological and cultural aspects of superstitions

[9:13] Superstitions: The positives and negatives

[14:36] The hidden wisdom of Stevie Wonder

[16:14] Why we should be curious about our rituals

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

Links

Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition

Delacroix, Eva & Valérie Guillard. (2008). Understanding, defining and measuring the trait of superstition.

Join us on Substack!

Join the Behavioral Grooves community

Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube

Music Links

Stevie Wonder - Superstition

Nightmare Before Christmas - This Is Halloween

  continue reading

501 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 515845762 series 2468001
Content provided by Kurt Nelson, PhD and Tim Houlihan, Kurt Nelson, and Tim Houlihan. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Kurt Nelson, PhD and Tim Houlihan, Kurt Nelson, and Tim Houlihan or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

This Halloween, we dive into the spooky science of superstition—why we knock on wood, wear lucky socks, and believe in things that defy logic. From the psychology of control and uncertainty to research on how superstition both stresses and strengthens us, we mix science, humor, and a dash of Stevie Wonder to show why “superstition ain’t the way.”

Topics

[0:00] Happy Halloween from Behavioral Grooves!

[2:08] Common superstitions and their rationality

[6:40] Psychological and cultural aspects of superstitions

[9:13] Superstitions: The positives and negatives

[14:36] The hidden wisdom of Stevie Wonder

[16:14] Why we should be curious about our rituals

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

Links

Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition

Delacroix, Eva & Valérie Guillard. (2008). Understanding, defining and measuring the trait of superstition.

Join us on Substack!

Join the Behavioral Grooves community

Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube

Music Links

Stevie Wonder - Superstition

Nightmare Before Christmas - This Is Halloween

  continue reading

501 episodes

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