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Behavioral Grooves PodcastAuthor: Kurt Nelson, PhD and Tim Houlihan
Stories, science and secrets from the worlds brightest thought-leaders. Behavioral Grooves is the podcast that satisfies your curiosity of why we do what we do. Explanations of human behavior that will improve your relationships, your wellbeing, and your organization by helping you find your groove. Language: en Genres: Business, Science, Social Sciences Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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The Science of Superstition: Why Our Brains Believe in Magic
Episode 513
Sunday, 26 October, 2025
This Halloween, we dive into the spooky science of superstition—why we knock on wood, wear lucky socks, and believe in things that defy logic. From the psychology of control and uncertainty to research on how superstition both stresses and strengthens us, we mix science, humor, and a dash of Stevie Wonder to show why “superstition ain’t the way.” Topics [0:00] Happy Halloween from Behavioral Grooves! [2:08] Common superstitions and their rationality [6:40] Psychological and cultural aspects of superstitions [9:13] Superstitions: The positives and negatives [14:36] The hidden wisdom of Stevie Wonder [16:14] Why we should be curious about our rituals ©2025 Behavioral Grooves Links Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition Delacroix, Eva & Valérie Guillard. (2008). Understanding, defining and measuring the trait of superstition. Join us on Substack! Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Music Links Stevie Wonder - Superstition Nightmare Before Christmas - This Is Halloween
