"Most all of us engage in small acts of magical thinking without a second thought. Perhaps you make a wish before blowing out birthday candles, knock on wood after tempting fate or resist certain words or actions that you fear could be a "jinx." These rituals are usually harmless, but they reveal how deeply magical thinking is woven into our everyday lives. Unchecked, magical thinking can prevent us from seeing reality as it really is, in lieu of perceiving what we wish it to be."
"Research shows that the frequency of magical thinking and superstitious behavior increases under conditions of stress, where the intention is to increase one's sense of control (Keinan, 2002). When people are faced with uncertainty, magical thinking allows for the construction of a space where ambiguity can be transformed into possibilities, however unlikely, and therefore reduce anxiety, offer comfort and sustain hope (Yannik, Handelman & Taylor, 2011)."
Small superstitious rituals such as wishing, knocking on wood, or avoiding a "jinx" are common and typically harmless. Magical thinking is a cognitive distortion that attributes causal power to thoughts, rituals, or actions without rational basis. Such thinking increases during stress and uncertainty as a coping strategy to regain perceived control, reduce anxiety, and sustain hope. Clinical forms appear in disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia, while subtler forms serve as bargaining chips and rationalizations. When wishful thinking overrides critical thinking, it obstructs clear perception of reality. Awareness and mindfulness foster detached acceptance of difficult truths.
Read at Psychology Today
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