It truly is time for humankind to “grow up” and conquer their superstitions. Superstitions originate in ancient times. Times when humankind was far more ignorant and lacked scientific knowledge. We appear to have carried superstition from those ancient times to the present when we are more enlightened thanks to science and well able to squash any superstitious fears through knowledge.
Why aren’t we doing it? It seems that superstition is inherent in humankind and it manifests itself in over one in ten Britons who refuse to purchase a black dog because they believe doing so will bring them bad luck. The same undoubtedly applies to black cats at rescue centres.
Anyone involved in cat or dog rescue knows that, in general, black cats and dogs spend far longer at rescue centres than rescue animals of other coats and it’s based on superstition. The precise percentage perhaps was unknown until a poll of 2,000 adults in the UK found that 12% believe that black dogs and cats bring bad luck.
The research was commissioned by Lottoland in partnership with Blue Cross. The survey found that 25% of adults are very or somewhat superstitious. Imagine that? A quarter of the population of the UK is at least somewhat superstitious.
Superstition is manifested in other ways than adopting black dogs and cats. Almost 33% of people have passed on one of their behaviours to a family member or friend. This is how it’s handed down over the generations. Many people believe that breaking a mirror brings bad luck and 14% of people throw salt over their shoulder when they spill it to prevent them suffering misfortune.
The Blue Cross says that it takes an extra five days and £50 more on average for them to find loving new homes for black cats compared to cats of other coats.
As I say in the title to this post, superstition damages animal welfare. And it isn’t just in the adoption of black cats and dogs.
A far bigger problem and one which is also widely discussed is traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) which, I would strongly argue, is almost entirely based on superstition.
Under this medicinal process consumers believe that eating rhino horn carries medicinal benefits but rhino horn is made of keratin, the same material that makes your nails and your hair. There is simply no scientific evidence to support the superstitious view that it is medicinally beneficial. Sadly, this superstition leads to the continual poaching of rhinos in Africa and their horns are sawn off and shipped to China. Just one aspect of wildlife body part trade which amounts to £18 billion worth of business worldwide (100 million animals and body parts).
For an animal advocate it is shocking. A lot of this trade, billions of pounds worth, is based on superstition and it could be stopped almost entirely over time if people weren’t superstitious.
I would argue also strongly that superstition is based on ignorance. I discuss this further below. Education should be able to eradicate superstition. The better educated are less likely to be superstitious. The cycle needs to be broken. Conservationists constantly fight, for example, against rhino poaching in Africa but it’s a rearguard action. It is a reactionary action. It would be far more sensible and successful to take proactive action and educate Asian people into changing their attitudes with respect to superstitions.
A more nuanced approach than simply that is required of course and one needs to respect the culture of other nations. I’m fully aware of that. One needs to do this sensitively but it needs to be done.
Below is some more information on this prepared by artificial intelligence.
Why are people still superstitious in the modern age?
Superstitions continue to thrive in the modern age because they offer psychological benefits, satisfy emotional needs, and help people make sense of uncertainty and anxiety—things that even science can’t always resolve. Here are some key reasons why superstition endures despite advancements in science and technology:
1. Managing Uncertainty and Anxiety
- Sense of Control: Superstitions offer a way to feel in control in situations that are uncertain, especially those involving luck, health, and success. For example, athletes often stick to specific rituals before games to manage stress and enhance confidence.
- Anxiety Relief: The simple act of following a ritual—like knocking on wood or carrying a lucky charm—can provide comfort and reduce anxiety, even if there’s no logical reason it would affect outcomes.
2. Cultural and Social Inheritance
- Deep Cultural Roots: Superstitions often become deeply embedded within cultures and are passed down across generations. In this way, they function like traditions, becoming part of a community’s identity. For example, avoiding the number 13 or not walking under ladders is rooted in cultural narratives.
- Social Reinforcement: People adopt the superstitions of those around them, especially if they see respected or influential figures practicing them. This social reinforcement helps sustain superstitions even when there’s little evidence to support them.
3. Cognitive Biases and Pattern Recognition
- Pattern Recognition: Human brains are wired to see patterns and make connections, even when they’re not there—a cognitive phenomenon known as apophenia. When we observe a positive or negative outcome that aligns with a particular belief, we might remember it and give it undue significance, reinforcing the superstition.
- Confirmation Bias: People tend to remember instances where superstitions seemed to “work” and forget the times they didn’t. This creates a feedback loop where we selectively pay attention to information that aligns with our beliefs.
4. Sense of Identity and Belonging
- Shared Beliefs: Superstitions provide a way for people to bond, sharing beliefs, stories, and practices that create a sense of belonging. Participating in cultural superstitions, like breaking a mirror being unlucky, helps people feel connected to others who share similar beliefs.
- Personal Identity: Some superstitions are unique to individuals or small groups, and maintaining them can become a personal identifier or signature behavior. In this sense, superstitions can feel like personal traditions, distinguishing people and connecting them to their past selves.
5. Emotional Coping Mechanism
- Coping with Randomness: Superstitions offer comfort when things feel chaotic. In situations involving risk—like illness, travel, or even exams—following certain superstitions can provide a sense of safety and psychological stability.
- Control in Crisis: People may turn to superstitions in times of crisis (e.g., illness or grief) as a way to impose order and make sense of suffering, offering a coping mechanism that is sometimes faster or simpler than more rational approaches.
6. Modern Media and Social Spread
- Media Influence: Films, shows, and online stories often dramatize superstitions, perpetuating beliefs and sometimes creating new ones. Social media spreads stories, which can add to the fascination and perpetuation of superstitions on a large scale.
- Personalized Superstitions: Online communities can foster the development of new superstitions, like certain practices for “manifesting” outcomes. This allows people to create, share, and reinforce beliefs that are often only a mix of psychology and chance.
In essence, superstitions serve as mental shortcuts for navigating complex, unpredictable realities, offering psychological comfort and a sense of control when other explanations fall short.
Supertition originates in a bygone age when we were more ignorant. Correct?
Yes, superstition largely originates from a time when humans had limited scientific knowledge and relied on mystical or supernatural explanations to make sense of their surroundings. In those earlier times, people observed patterns in nature, life, and even in random events, trying to link them to outcomes they couldn’t otherwise explain. Without the scientific method or an understanding of causation, they would often attribute unexplained events to forces beyond the material world.
But it’s interesting to note that while superstitions did stem from early ignorance about natural phenomena, they also had practical functions:
- Safety and Survival: Some superstitions had practical, even survival-oriented, origins. For instance, ancient beliefs around certain animals, weather patterns, or natural events often stemmed from observations meant to protect people. For example, not walking under a ladder is a superstition that likely started as a simple rule of thumb to avoid the danger of something falling.
- Cultural Order and Stability: Superstitions helped to create social norms and moral codes before formal laws or shared scientific understanding existed. This way, certain taboos and superstitions served to maintain order or reinforce behaviors that benefited the community.
- Explaining the Unknown: Before we had scientific tools, people used the frameworks available to them to explain phenomena like eclipses, illnesses, and natural disasters. By attributing these events to divine, supernatural, or mystical forces, people could find comfort or meaning, even in terrifying situations.
- Psychological Comfort: The desire for control over life’s uncertainty existed then as it does now. Superstitions were often coping mechanisms to reduce anxiety in the face of unknowns. Before the scientific method could provide concrete answers, rituals and beliefs filled the gap and provided a psychological balm.
Despite the vast advances in knowledge, these psychological, social, and emotional needs still persist today, and so, for some, superstition retains its allure—even in a more enlightened age.
Bearing in mind that superstition has many downsides including not adopting black rescue dogs and cats and eating rhino horn as a medicine, isn’t it time we stopped being superstitious? Isn’t it time there was a government-led education program to end it?
The negative impacts of superstition are real, and many people share the view that society could benefit from a systematic effort to reduce harmful superstitions. However, addressing superstitions on a large scale is complex for a few reasons:
1. Deep Cultural Roots and Personal Beliefs
- Superstitions are often woven into cultural identities and practices, and for some people, they’re tied to deeply personal beliefs. Government-led programs risk being seen as intrusive or even disrespectful, especially if they directly challenge longstanding traditions or seem to impose new ways of thinking.
- A one-size-fits-all approach might not work well across diverse communities with unique cultural beliefs, so any program would need to be highly sensitive to cultural variations.
2. Psychological and Social Functions of Superstition
- Superstitions meet psychological needs, such as providing comfort and reducing anxiety, which could make them difficult to remove without alternative methods to manage these feelings. To effectively replace superstition, programs might need to integrate lessons on psychology, critical thinking, and stress management.
- Some superstitions, like minor good luck charms or personal rituals, cause little harm and may even provide mental stability. Focusing on these benign superstitions might seem unnecessary and detract from addressing those that do cause harm, like those leading to animal cruelty or exploitation.
3. A Better Approach: Education in Critical Thinking
- Instead of directly challenging superstition, education programs could focus on enhancing critical thinking, scientific literacy, and understanding of evidence-based practices. By teaching people to question sources and assess claims critically, they may be better equipped to move away from harmful superstitions on their own.
- Teaching about the scientific method, the psychology of belief, and cognitive biases can help people understand why superstitions might feel compelling while recognizing the limitations of these beliefs. This approach avoids targeting specific beliefs and instead fosters an environment where critical thinking becomes the norm.
4. Targeting Harmful Superstitions Specifically
- A more focused approach could prioritize addressing superstitions that have clear, harmful outcomes. For instance, public awareness campaigns could address issues like the superstition against adopting black pets or the use of animal products like rhino horn for medicinal purposes. Clear, factual information paired with storytelling that promotes empathy for animals can challenge these specific beliefs effectively.
- Working with cultural leaders, influencers, and local communities to address harmful superstitions collaboratively could also be more effective than a top-down approach. Community-driven initiatives have a higher chance of success since they build trust and respect.
5. Promoting Alternatives to Superstition
- To address people’s need for control and comfort, programs could encourage healthy, evidence-based practices that provide similar benefits, like mindfulness, meditation, and stress-management techniques.
- Encouraging positive, culturally respectful rituals that align with science can offer people a sense of continuity without the downsides of harmful superstition.
In essence, a nuanced approach is likely more effective than a blunt effort to “end” superstition. Education programs that focus on critical thinking, empathy, and scientific literacy can guide people toward healthier beliefs without directly confronting or disrespecting their cultural values. Over time, this kind of education could reduce the prevalence of harmful superstitions and foster a society better equipped to approach unknowns with curiosity and evidence-based practices.
