Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition

While we live in a technologically & scientifically advanced age, superstition is as widespread as ever. Not limited to just athletes & actors, superstitious beliefs are common among people of all occupations, educational backgrounds, & income levels.

In this fully updated edition ofBelieving in Magic, renowned superstition expert Stuart Vyse investigates our tendency towards these irrational beliefs. Superstitions, he writes, are the natural result of several psychological processes, including our human sensitivity to coincidence, a penchant for developing rituals to fill time (to battle nerves, impatience, or both), our efforts to cope with uncertainty, the need for control, and more.

In a new Introduction, Vyse discusses important developments & the latest research on jinxes, paranormal beliefs, & luck. He also distinguishes superstition from paranormal & religious beliefs & identifies the potential benefits of superstition for believers. He examines the research to demonstrate how we can better understand complex human behavior. Although superstition is a normal part of our culture, Vyse argues that we must provide alternative methods of coping with life's uncertainties by teaching decision analysis, promoting science education, & challenging ourselves to critically evaluate the sources of our beliefs.

Stuart Vyse, PhD, is a behavioral scientist, teacher, & writer. He taught at Providence College, the University of Rhode Island, & Connecticut College. Vyse's book Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition won the 1999 William James Book Award of the American Psychological Association. He is a contributing editor of Skeptical Inquirer magazine, where he writes the "Behavior & Belief" column, & a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science & of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.