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."

These beliefs can cause anxiety, palpitations and rise in blood pressure. The psychosocial factors can cause an increase in the adrenaline secretions adversely affecting your heart. Try to convince someone who is superstitious not to be and she may think you are ignorant or doomed. "Extreme cases need cognitive behaviour therapy and an actual exposure to the superstition in order to convince her, for instance, that nothing can go wrong even if a black cat crosses her path," adds Dr Cooper. There is nothing paranormal about prophecies. "If you believe that something is going to happen, you can make it happen."

Common Superstitions

>> Friday the 13th and hence the number 13 are unlucky.

>> Breaking a mirror causes bad luck.

>> Knocking on wood or 'keeping fingers crossed' brings good luck.

>> Carrying a lucky charm brings good luck.

>> Wearing the same dress for every important occasion will ensure luck.

>> Walking under a ladder brings bad luck.

>> If a crow sits on your windowsill, you will have a visitor.

>> If you ask someone where he or she is going, the purpose of his or her going will not be fulfilled.

Women VS Men

According to a survey, 51 per cent of women said that they were somewhat superstitious as against the 29 per cent of men.

Touch Wood!

The practice of knocking on wood for luck dates back to the ancient Celtics, who worshipped the tree as the first earthly representation of the Gods. Trees were believed to force all evil demons back into the ground.

Cracked Mirror

Breaking a mirror is considered unlucky. In ancient times, it was believed that our reflection is a representation of our soul. So damaging or breaking the reflection amounted to damaging the soul.

Unravelling the thirteen

The fear of the number 13 is the most common of all superstitions; it even has a name - Trisecaphobia. The superstition dates back to biblical times when Jesus invited 12 apostles to the Last Supper, and Judas, who betrayed Christ, was the thirteenth. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ took place on Friday the 13th and hence, the day and date are considered unlucky. Surprisingly, the 'British Medical Journal' has reported that more road accidents occur on Friday the 13th than on Friday the 6th or any other day.

Another story is about a Norse deity, either Frigg, goddess of marriage and fertility or Freya, goddess of sex and fertility, after whom Friday is named. The legend tells us about the 12 witches who gathered with their cats in a cemetery to observe the Sabbath. One night, Freya, whose sacred animal was a cat, appeared before the witches and gave them a cat, increasing the number to 13.