If breaking a mirror actually brought bad luck, surely the government would have public service announcements regarding reflecting-glass safety. And if tossing salt over the left shoulder after spilling a shaker was truly effective, schools would host regular drills.
Superstitions don’t make sense. Yet, many logical people wince if they break a mirror. They avoid the number 13 or hold their breath when passing cemeteries.
Social scientists are learning more about the psychology behind superstitious behavior. Although superstitions may be illogical, researchers are finding they can be psychologically beneficial and might be rooted in evolutionary advantage.
Social scientists increasingly began observing and analyzing superstitious behavior in the 1800s. The inquiry was mostly related to religion, and researchers typically considered superstitions when studying foreign cultures.
In the 1950s, researchers shifted their study to superstitious behavior among members of their own cultures.
