Falling For Superstitions
Can understanding superstition reveal hidden patterns in human behavior?
4.7 (24)
37 mins
Explore the psychological reasons behind why humans rely on rituals and superstitions to cope with uncertainty Discover how the brain creates a sense of control and comfort even when the beliefs have no real basis
Ep 1:
Why Rational Minds Believe Irrational Things
In an age of science and smartphones, superstition thrives—explore why stress, accelerating change, and our miscalibrated Stone Age brains make even skeptics susceptible to magical thinking.
Ep 2:
Lucky Chicken, Gonks, and Winning Rituals
From Wade Boggs' lemon chicken to Beckham's obsessive tidiness, discover how athletes, celebrities, students, and social groups create elaborate rituals—and why intelligence offers no immunity.
Ep 3:
The Hidden Logic of Lucky Rituals
Why do we jump, chant, or repeat rituals waiting for uncertain outcomes? Uncover the brain's cause-and-effect illusions and how control—even fake control—eases anxiety.
Ep 4:
Knocking on Wood in a Modern World
As missiles fell on Tel Aviv, rational soldiers knocked on wood. This finale reveals why magical thinking persists everywhere—and why that makes us beautifully human.
Discussions (13)
Wilbert
Level 9 · 8 mo agoClaiming everyone is superstitious is straight bullshit lol. I don't need a lucky shirt or magic rituals. Stop making excuses for irrational people.
Tatum
Level 10 · 8 mo agoBeckham lining up Pepsi cans in pairs is just nuts. I heard he can't relax unless they are perfect. Money clearly doesn't stop you from being obsessive.
Chase
Level 7 · 8 mo agoBoggs eating chicken for 20 years to hit .328 is the only advanced metric I actually trust.
