Valerie Valencia
English 120
Professor Berger
July 9, 2015

Comforting lies
INTRO Superstitions date back to God's attempt to explain nature and his own existence. There was a deep belief that animals, nature and objects held a connection to spirits and the spirit world. In order to have a feeling of appeasing these forces, different behaviors or customs arose that would dictate a favorable fate and good fortune. Many superstitions have come from mythology, where omens were common. Superstitions live on because they have been passed on from generation to generation. Even today, where direct evidence and facts outweigh superstitious beliefs, there are probably very few people who can categorically deny that they do not at least secretly harbor a slight belief in one or two superstitions.
CLAIM I grew up doing some crazy things, but to me they weren’t so crazy. There are many superstitions my family believes in that are among our Mexican traditions. It wasn’t until I was in my late teens that I realized my beliefs were indeed superstitious. Many of these beliefs come from deep in our roots and are still practiced in our family today. I realized the magic and also the chaos of believing in extreme superstitions. As I became older, some superstitions I became a firm believer of while others were to silly for me to continue to practice.
WARRANT Many superstitions stem from the same human trait that causes us to believe in monsters and ghosts; when our brains can't explain something, we make stuff up. In fact, a 2010 study found that superstitions can sometimes work , because believing in something can improve performance on a task. Some popular superstitions are a result of misinterpreting correlations as causes, although many others are simply urban legends that have no rational justification whatsoever. According to Vyse our locus of control can also be a factor contributing to whether or not we are superstitious. If you have an internal locus of control, you believe that you are in charge of everything; you are the master of your fate and you can make things happen. If you have an external locus of control, "you're sort of buffeted by life, and things happen to you instead of the other way around," says Vyse. People with external locus of control are more likely to be superstitious, possibly as a way of getting more power over their lives.
SUPPORT
Wanting more control or certainty is the driving force behind most superstitions. We tend to look for some kind of a rule, or an explanation for why things happen. "Sometimes the creation of a false certainty is better than no certainty at all, and that is what much of the research suggests," says Vyse. Job interviews, testing, and other situations where we want things to go well, regardless of our own preparation or performance, can spur superstitious thoughts. "We are often in situations in life where something really important is about to happen, we've prepared for it as best we can, but it's still uncertain and unclear," Vyse says. No matter how confident or prepared you are for an event whether it's a football game, a wedding, or a presentation things can still happen beyond your control. "Superstitions provide people with the sense that they've done one more thing to try to ensure the outcome they are looking for." A sense of security and confidence are perhaps the greatest benefits we get emotionally from superstitious thinking or behavior like carrying an object or wearing an item of clothing that you deem to be lucky. Foxman says there is a positive placebo effect "if you think something will help you, it may do just that. "There is a tremendous amount of power in belief," he says. If the outcome is a matter of pure luck, beliefs don't really have any impact, however, when your performance is a key factor in an outcome, superstitious thinking might give you an extra boost. "There can be a real psychological effect of superstitious thoughts," says Vyse. If you've done well before when you had a particular shirt on, for example, it might prove wise to wear the shirt again, if it helps to relieve anxiety and promotes positive thoughts. But this way of thinking can also hinder your performance, if you lose your lucky object.
CONCLUSION It's not news that expectations can be extremely powerful and suggestive. Studies regularly point to positive and negative placebo effects, which are entirely caused by the power of expectations or preconceptions. Yet superstitions can also play a negative role in our lives, especially when combined with a bad habit such as gambling. If you're a compulsive gambler who believes that you can get lucky, then that belief may contribute to your problem. Phobic or fearful superstitions can also interfere with our lives, and cause a lot of anxiety, says Vyse. For example, people who are afraid of Friday the 13th might change travel arrangements or skip an appointment because of unnecessary anxiety. These types of superstitions offer no benefit at all.