Superstitious Behaviour And Magical Thinking Flashcards
What is a common superstition?
If you break a mirror it will give you 7 years bad luck
What are the explanations for superstition?
Evolutionary
Behavioural
(Reduction of anxiety)
What are the explanations for magical thinking?
Evolutionary
Behavioural????
(Reduction of anxiety)
How many superstition arise according to the behavioural explanation?
Due to conditioning. If the behaviour has a pleasant consequence (a positive reinforcer) then the behaviour will be repeated. For example a ritual such as not walking over 3 drains reduces anxiety and means the behaviour will be repeated
Skinner study
High
What is a type of superstitious thinking?
Magical thinking
What type of thinking is magical thinking?
A form of superstitious thinking
What is magical thinking based on?
The belief that all things are connected in some way
What is the evolutionary explanation? (More detailed)
In the past many things happened which had a big impact on the lives of humans such as floods and droughts but at the time these could not be explained and caused anxiety and stress. Magical thinking and superstitious behaviours may have decreased anxiety which would have enhanced survival as chronic stress leads to illness because it has an immunosuppressive effect
Briefly, what is the evolutionary explanation?
Stress and anxiety cause illness due to the immunosuppressive effect chronic stress has, magical thinking and superstitious behaviour may reduce stress, and therefore enhance survival.
What supports the evolutionary explanation?
The work of anthropologist Malinowski
What were Malinowski’s finding?
He observed Melanesian islanders and observed some of their ‘magical rituals’. He going they did not carry out the rituals for tasks such as planting crop which were well understood but did for tasks which were dangerous or new such as sailing into deep waters.
What researchers are related to evolutionary explanations?
Kienan
Malinowski
What were kienan’s findings?
He found those living in areas prone to missle attack (high stress) during the Gulf war displayed more magical thinking than those not prone to attack (low stress)
What can be concluded from Kienan’s study?
Magical thinking was a method of reducing stress
