Do's and dont's: An Informal Study of Some Prevailing Superstitions

Abstract

An informal study was conducted to demonstrate the prevalence and relationship to specific background variables of prevailing superstitions. A questionnaire containing 24 superstitious beliefs or practices was independently completed by 132 adults. Each superstition was rated as to whether it had strong, partial, or no influence for the individual, and a total score was obtained. The highest possible score was 48, and the range found in the sample was 0 to 46. The mean total superstition score for women was higher than for men, the difference being statistically significant ( p.05). A moderately substantial negative correlation ( p.01) was found between superstitious belief and amount of formal education. It is suggested that, particularly in current times, the sense of control inherent in superstitious belief and practice has a therapeutic value in the reduction of anxiety. This value may account for the survival of common superstitions in spite of centuries of advance in scientific knowledge.