Research suggests superstition can subtly undermine people’s ability to manage stress effectively, leaving them susceptible to its harmful effects.
At a Glance
- Superstitions correlate with decreased resilience in managing stress, per research.
- Mental health frameworks can improve by addressing superstitious beliefs.
- Stress exacerbates superstitious practices, affecting coping abilities.
- Studies show superstitions may serve as anxiety-controlling mechanisms.
Understanding Superstition and Stress
A significant number of Americans identify as being superstitious. This trait is more prevalent among younger generations, posing questions about its potential impact on stress management. Researchers argue that superstitions may provide psychological comfort in uncertain times, falsely alleviating anxiety and encouraging a reliance on ineffective coping mechanisms.
Dr. Jen Ashton spoke on the topic of superstition on Good Morning America in 2023:
Research indicates individuals clinging to superstitions might lack the resilience necessary for overcoming stress, largely because superstitions replace evidence-based coping strategies. Superstitious beliefs overlap with obsessive-compulsive tendencies, though they employ different cognitive pathways. This connection complicates diagnosing and treating related mental health concerns.
The Cognitive Process Behind Superstitions
Individuals engage in thinking fast and slow, a cognitive process where intuitive and rational thinking coexist. While recognizing the irrationality of superstitions, individuals often fail to correct these beliefs in real-time. This paradox allows superstitions to persist, impacting stress management abilities negatively.
The “thinking fast and slow” model “must allow for the possibility that people can recognize — in the moment — that their belief does not make sense, but act on it nevertheless,” Jane Risen of the University of Chicago Booth in Illinois previously wrote in 2015.
Newer research from Manchester Metropolitan University may advance our understanding of stress and superstition, demonstrating a link between superstition and high stress. This tendency increases when one’s desire for control is unmet, indicating that control-seeking mechanisms might underlie superstitious behaviors.
Implications for Mental Health Strategies
“Findings support the notion that traditional paranormal belief is associated with external control, specifically the notion that unknown supernatural forces/powers influence existence. However, additional research is still needed to further explore these fascinating relationships in connection to perceived stress, well-being and coping styles,” per an article in the International Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences reported by The New York Post.
Addressing superstitions in therapeutic settings could open new avenues for robust mental health interventions.
Sources
- How do superstitions affect our psychology and well-being?
- Having these ‘paranormal’ beliefs linked to more difficulty coping with stress
