How do superstitions become superstitions?

Answer 1

Generally speaking, superstitions come about by repetition.

We will say for example you are about to start you mid-term exams. You have studied and prepared yourself as best you are able, but yo are nervous about the out come.

On the day of your first exam you are in a hurry and put on miss-matched socks. You hurry to your exam and sit down just as the bell rings. You write your exam and find that you know the right answers and have an easy time of the whole experience. When you leave you realize you have on miss-matched socks and think it is kind of funny.

That afternoon you write a second exam and again find it fairly easy.

After the exam you and a friend are talking and you mention you thought both of the exams were pretty easy and you believe you did well in them. At this point your friend notices your miss-matched socks and mentions them, saying that maybe that was what brought you luck.

The next day, you get up in plenty of time and rethinking your conversation with your friend you put the miss-matched socks back on, thinking it couldn't hurt just in case it was "lucky".

Again you find the exams fairly easy.

When your day is finished you are once again talking with your friend and the "socks" and ease of the exam are noted again.

The next day you tell yourself you don't really believe in "lucky socks" but then again why risk it if they really are lucky.

You wear them again and when you get to class your friend points out that they too are wearing miss-matched "lucky socks".

It does not occur to either of you that the studying and preparations you did are what effected the outcome of the exams, it is easier to credit outside help.

This is frequently the beginning of a superstition. Ask any sports player.