It just boggles my mind how so many people are superstious in this day and age. I think to myself, WHAT A DUMBASS! When people actually believe that black cats cause bad luck and pennies cause good luck. There is a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow but you can never get to it! And don't get me started on the bizarre rituals in many religions such as saying Hail Mary! a certiain amount of times will stop you from burning in a lake of fire for eternity or that you can actually have a personal relationship with a dead jewish zombie. The Aztecs practiced human sacrifices to please various gods, billions of people cross their fingers in hopes for the best all the time! Who hasn't (besides me) knocked on wood for good luck? Why do the Chinese after all these years still make fortune cookies? Because lots of people believe them! But why? It's so illogical!. Why did my species evolve to be so superstious? Does it serve a purpose in reality that I'm not aware of? Is there any evidence of superstious behaviour in other animal species? Or most unlikely, are superstions real? What are your thoughts? Sent from my iPod touch using Grasscity Forum
I grew up playing baseball and those that have played will know what I'm talking about. Baseball is one of the most superstitious sports in the world. When you're in a "slump" in baseball, we'll do anything to get out of that slump. Guys will go weeks without washing there jock or wearing the same wrist band in the same location game after game or wear the same undershirt without washing it if they're doing good after bringing that object into play (if it brings them out of there slump). And they'll do it for other guys too. Standing in one spot of the dugout when a guy goes to hit cus last time they were sitting there doing this thing then this person got a hit or made a good play. If it works they'll do the same thing over again next time. Just another part of this game we play called LIFE.
Bloody marry really does come out of the mirror if you bug her too much. I had a friend get high on weed and try it and he got chopped up Drugs are bad mkay? -yuri
I believe that religions and other superstitions were developed out of fear of the world around us that we don't understand. They give people a sense that they have some control over things they don't understand and a filling of voids in knowledge of the world around us with a false framework of knowledge that gives the illusion of understanding. We often fear things that we don't understand (as we don't know if they are harmful or not) so humans have developed these mythologies to pass on this false knowledge to others. Obviously there's a lot of power and control that got injected in there as well. But ya, you're right. It's pretty stupid in this day and age.
"Life is 50% luck and 50% preperatuon. Knocking on wood hardens your knuckles for the coming fights as well as granting you luck" Win win -yuri
I'm a behaviorist so I could probably shed some light on this. Superstition is a side effect of evolution. We evolved to complete patterns. Even a false positive, while it might not be correct, has a higher percentage of keeping us alive. Behaviors that are successful get passed down and often get exaggerated. Superstition is nothing more than humans attempts to see patterns where there are no patterns. There is a great book called "The Believing Brain" by Michael Shermer if you are into stuff like this.
back on topic though. The answer to your question is pretty simple. People have little control over their lives. We face trials and hardships, and routinely get fucked in the ass by life. People want to think there is someone/something out there looking out for them. Helping them survive in this world they have no control over. This natural desire for a Savior, hero, or protector, goes beyond mere religion or superstition. It is deeply rooted in our society. Our government, our family and friends, everything we build around the idea that people need help. Its just that sometimes, we wish we had more help. Its easy to wish for divine intervention so hard that you delude yourself into expecting it. Edit: this may also be why people turn to religion as they approach death's door -yuri
Yeah my grandmothers into all this spiritual crap kinda stuff, always sending me "positive vibes" and odd stones that bring positive emotions and what not, but it's my grandmother so I just respect what she believes and keep my mouth shut of my real thoughts and go along haha Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
Thanks man! Now that I know more about it next time I will stop making fun of the superstious. I will definitely give that book a read! 😃 Sent from my iPod touch using Grasscity Forum
I think we SHOULD make fun of superstitions. Bad ideas should be criticized. I make fun of superstitious people all the time. haha.
I had a customer give me some stones years ago. I dont carry them around but the malachite is badass, i love looking at it. I suppose in that sense and the kind gesture it does increase my mood
I'm too high to explain it, but your answer is actually the cover story on this month's National Geographic.
Chinese make fortune cookies because they are a novelty item that sells. Superstitions are a shitty version of mental heuristics we use all the time. Read about heuristics in the context of psychology/sociology and you will find detailed answers hopefully. In short: yes some animals abide by extremely simple rules that make no sense to those of us with greater understanding of the world.