Dr Parul R Sheth explores the need to believe in superstitions

Do you cross your fingers as you enter your boss' cabin? Are you superstitious about the number 13? Do you have a lucky dress that you wear on special occasions like interviews or exams? Even people who believe in science can be superstitious at times. But these little rituals and beliefs can have a palpable effect on your psyche.

Age-Old Beliefs

The fear of Friday the 13th is as old as the act of counting. The Chinese and Japanese associate the number four - 'shi,' with death. Indians seem to have plenty of superstitions where women are concerned - more so in the rural areas. Menstruating women are said to be impure; widows and women with no children are to be avoided at the time of festivities and so on. A pregnant woman should be 'eating for two' in order to give birth to a robust baby. Today, we know that the saying is untrue, although some women may still use it to excuse their eating habits or periodic indulgences while pregnant.

The 'Guinness Book of World Records' cites a woman from Houston, USA, as the 'The world's most superstitious person'. She claims to have over 2,000 superstitious beliefs and is adding new ones to her considerably large number every day.

Why Are Women More Superstitious?

"By and large, women are more trusting by nature, they tend to believe easily, are emotional, and willing to seek help for others," explains Dr Kainaz Cooper, clinical psychologist, BD Petit Parsi General Hospital, Mumbai. "Men on the other hand are rational and suspicious."

Also, women have a strong need for control, have a low tolerance for ambiguity and they tend to worry about life. Moreover, many psychological factors contribute to beliefs. These superstitious beliefs fill in the gaps where you need to find answers to uncertainties. Dr Richard Wiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire, confirm this, "Superstitions give us a feeling of control over uncertainty and so it might be predicted that the current feeling of instability in the world would create an increase in superstition. And most people engage in at least some type of superstitious behaviour."

"Whenever I wear my green dress, I do well in my presentations at work," reveals Smita Patankar, a research scientist at a pharmaceutical company. In fact, even when I got this job, I was wearing the same green dress for the interview." This is what psychologists call operant conditioning. Superstitious behaviour begins with a coincidence like the one in which Smita thinks she got that job because of the green dress. There is a strong tendency for you to repeat the response, which is coincident with reinforcement.

Studies suggest that there are no differences between men and women in the power of belief, only in what they choose to believe.

Troublesome Mindset

We all believe in the occasional superstition, but making decisions and blaming them for your shortcomings is harmful. "I am sure I am not going to do well in these exams," said Reena, who had to appear for her graduation exam. She had forgotten to wear her lucky charm and she blamed its absence for not doing well in her paper. Says Dr Cooper, "When superstitions become a cause of discord in the family and becomes an obsession, one needs to be treated. The beliefs can affect your mental as well as physical health."