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Why do Indians still believe in superstitious beliefs and rituals?

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prasad1

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There are multiple threads in this forum, and I am sure in all Indian chat sites, we are highly superstitious people.

To understand the prevalence of superstition and rituals in the society, one must go back to the early Vedic age to understand the institution of religion and its evolution in India. Back then, rituals were (known and acknowledged to be) the means of employment for priests. Undue importance was placed on the priest class. The priest class further stoked this feeling with citing the need for more and more importance to rituals to live a happy life. Soon, everyone forgot that superstition and rituals were merely an economic activity for the priests, because it was convenient to think that there was a way to contact or control the super natural.

Very little has changed since, in the private lives of Indians. We still stick to the "safety" of rituals and superstition. Very few superstitious beliefs are founded in more than nonsensical foundation. But we, as enlightened people, are going to hold on to those practices because they're our insurance scheme, and are confidence boosters.

This is not characteristic of Indians alone, as pointed out in other answers here. It's human nature to be stupid. It's also human nature to feed off stupidity.

Sneha Divakaran, Indian
The spread and quality of Education has a huge role to play in eradicating superstition. Indian culture of acquiring knowledge is mostly memorizing text with little emphasis on the meaning. This process is encouraged in every facet of life. Questioning is discouraged. As a result India has failed to produce a single Nobel Laureate in science for more than 80 years. Not a single technology institute listed in the top 500 in Shanghai Ranking. Very little interest among students in core science subjects and research.

Science is not part of Indian culture, we are a spiritual nation with religious people earning 1000 times more than a scientist at TIFR.

People do not have the tools of logic and common sense to distinguish between fact and opinion, between myth and history.

Nishad Kaippally
, Saving the world from stupidity, one idiot at a time.

Possible reasons could be:
1. We live with our older generations. Even though we aren't prepared to believe it, some people doesn't want to take risk by ignoring them. It's all just a belief. What will happen if we don't follow this? Will it go bad? So many questions will pop up in our mind, thereby ends up believing it partially.
2. Elders at home will have 1001 examples to say things which went wrong when they failed to follow some rituals.
3. Some of the beliefs do have some scientific theory behind it.
4. It's just not about Indians. People across the world have some kind of superstitious beliefs.
5. We constantly keep looking for certain things like why it happened and how it happened?. We are in need of an explanation for an action. We blame our luck if things take a different direction. Luck is also a kind of superstition.
Swapna De
https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Indians-still-believe-in-superstitious-beliefs-and-rituals
 
I know there is superstition all around the world. I also know that educated people do practice some superstitions, including the belief in Brahman (Guilty as charged).
But I think it is much more common in India, to the extent that it controls (ruins) their life.
 
The spread and quality of Education has a huge role to play in eradicating superstition. Indian culture of acquiring knowledge is mostly memorizing text with little emphasis on the meaning. This process is encouraged in every facet of life. Questioning is discouraged. As a result India has failed to produce a single Nobel Laureate in science for more than 80 years. Not a single technology institute listed in the top 500 in Shanghai Ranking. Very little interest among students in core science subjects and research.

In case that being the truth, How could India became one of the handful of nations that reached Mars that too with a highly economic technology than the so called developed nations use?
How could India became the most sort after destination for satellite launch by most of the developed nations?
How could India stand tall with own missile and other defense development technologies?
How could it be possible for India to have access to nuclear technology?

The following were Indian contributions to the world of Science at such a time when most of the present developed could even start thinking about1) Atomism

The earliest mention of the concept of the atom dates back to India. A couple of popular schools of thought dating back to the 6th century BC developed theories about how atoms combined to form more complex objects. References to atoms in the West emerged about a century later.
2) Zero

Zero was recognized as a number and not merely a symbol of separation amongst all other numbers in India. Basic calculations – including multiplications and divisions were already carried out considering zero as any other number from the 9th century AD.
3) Trigonometric functions

The functions of sine and cosine can be traced back to India. Although the study of trigonometry can be dated back to the ancient times, there is evidence that these two values were being used in the 5th century AD.
4) Modern decimal system

What we use as the modern decimal system was compiled in its entirety in India. Although other cultures had introduced some features of the numeric system beforehand, it was completed in India by the 9th century AD.
5) Chandrasekhar Limit

Indian Nobel Prize-winning physicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar discovered the calculation used to determine the future of what would happen to a dying star. If the star’s mass is less than the Chandrasekhar Limit it will shrink to become a white dwarf, and if it is great the star will explode, becoming a supernova. science.


 
5 Most Prominent People Of Indian Origin Working At NASA

NASA is the world’s most prominent space agency and a great place to work. Indians are always supposed to have high curiosity and very hard workers. True to this, many Indian origin scientists are currently working at NASA for accomplishing scientific discoveries in the space.Here’s a list of Indian’s who’ve worked at NASA, let’s find about them:5. Sharmila Bhattacharya

Sharmila was born in Lagos, Nigeria and currently heads the Biomodel performance and behavior laboratory at NASA Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. She is a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Princeton University. Earlier in her career, she was a payload scientist at Lockheed Martin (a defense company of US). Sharmila’s dream of becoming a scientist at NASA was fueled by her father. Bhattacharya is truly an inspiration for all young girls who believe in chasing their dream and doing hard work.
Sharmila-Bhattacharya.jpg
4. Dr. Kamlesh Lulla

Kamlesh started his career with NASA at JSC (Johnson Space Center) in the year 1998. He holds two PhDs and is an expert in the field of Earth and Space sciences at NASA. Dr. Lulla is an internationally acclaimed chief scientist and honored by the US government for his 25 years of service in NASA. He has authored more than 200 scientific papers and also co-authored a book titled ‘Wings In Orbit’. This book comprises of innovations made in last 30 years at NASA. He is also a recipient of NASA’s highest honor named as Exceptional Achievement Medal in 2005 and the 2012 Ellison Onizuka Award. At present, Dr. Kamlesh is serving NASA as the director of the University Research, Collaboration and Partnership office at JSC, Houston, Texas (US).
Dr-Kamlesh-Lulla.jpg
3. Ashwin R. Vasavada

Ashwin is a Tamil Brahmin who bagged NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal in 2013. His research interests include geological study of Mars and study of polar volatiles on Moon and the Mercury. Currently, he is a Senior Scientist at JPL CA 91109. He is also an important member of space agency’s most ambitious project mission – ‘Mars Curiosity Rover’. Ashwin holds a Ph.D. in planetary science from California Institute of Technology (1998).
Ashwin-R.-Vasavada.jpg
2. Dr. Meyya Meyyappan

Dr. Meyya Meyyappan is one of the recipients of prestigious IEEE Pioneer Award in Nanotechnology. He was awarded for his cutting edge contribution in the area of ‘carbon nanotube application development in the year 2011. He belongs to a Tamil Brahmin family. He is currently chief scientist for Exploration Technology at the center for Nanotechnology, NASA Ames Research center in Moffett Field, CA 94035. He has published some material on the research topic such as ‘Nanoenabled Sensors for Security, Biomedical and Industrial Applications’ (NACNT).
Dr.-Meyya-MEYYAPPAN-1.jpg
1. Anita Sengupta

Anita Sengupta is an aerospace engineer and currently working at NASA’s jet propulsion laboratory (JPL) in Greater Los Angeles area as a project manager. The expert NASA engineer contributed in designing parachute for ‘Curiosity rover’ which landed successfully on Mars Surface. In her younger days she was fascinated by science fiction and also loves motorcycle riding. As youth mentor, she delivered a lecture on Mars exploration at Nehru Centre, Mumbai on August 11, 2013. Nowadays, she is working on an ultra –cold quantum gas experiment that is scheduled to be launched into the ISS (International Space Station) in 2016. Her career highlight was the successful landing of rover on Red planet and she thinks that ‘Man can set foot on Mars one day’.



 
The fact that Indians are also superstitious is not denied. But that cannot deny our rightful place in the world of science and technology..
 
5 Most Prominent People Of Indian Origin Working At NASA

NASA is the world’s most prominent space agency and a great place to work. Indians are always supposed to have high curiosity and very hard workers. True to this, many Indian origin scientists are currently working at NASA for accomplishing scientific discoveries in the space.Here’s a list of Indian’s who’ve worked at NASA, let’s find about them:5. Sharmila Bhattacharya

Sharmila was born in Lagos, Nigeria and currently heads the Biomodel performance and behavior laboratory at NASA Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. She is a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Princeton University. Earlier in her career, she was a payload scientist at Lockheed Martin (a defense company of US). Sharmila’s dream of becoming a scientist at NASA was fueled by her father. Bhattacharya is truly an inspiration for all young girls who believe in chasing their dream and doing hard work.
Sharmila-Bhattacharya.jpg
4. Dr. Kamlesh Lulla

Kamlesh started his career with NASA at JSC (Johnson Space Center) in the year 1998. He holds two PhDs and is an expert in the field of Earth and Space sciences at NASA. Dr. Lulla is an internationally acclaimed chief scientist and honored by the US government for his 25 years of service in NASA. He has authored more than 200 scientific papers and also co-authored a book titled ‘Wings In Orbit’. This book comprises of innovations made in last 30 years at NASA. He is also a recipient of NASA’s highest honor named as Exceptional Achievement Medal in 2005 and the 2012 Ellison Onizuka Award. At present, Dr. Kamlesh is serving NASA as the director of the University Research, Collaboration and Partnership office at JSC, Houston, Texas (US).
Dr-Kamlesh-Lulla.jpg
3. Ashwin R. Vasavada

Ashwin is a Tamil Brahmin who bagged NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal in 2013. His research interests include geological study of Mars and study of polar volatiles on Moon and the Mercury. Currently, he is a Senior Scientist at JPL CA 91109. He is also an important member of space agency’s most ambitious project mission – ‘Mars Curiosity Rover’. Ashwin holds a Ph.D. in planetary science from California Institute of Technology (1998).
Ashwin-R.-Vasavada.jpg
2. Dr. Meyya Meyyappan

Dr. Meyya Meyyappan is one of the recipients of prestigious IEEE Pioneer Award in Nanotechnology. He was awarded for his cutting edge contribution in the area of ‘carbon nanotube application development in the year 2011. He belongs to a Tamil Brahmin family. He is currently chief scientist for Exploration Technology at the center for Nanotechnology, NASA Ames Research center in Moffett Field, CA 94035. He has published some material on the research topic such as ‘Nanoenabled Sensors for Security, Biomedical and Industrial Applications’ (NACNT).
Dr.-Meyya-MEYYAPPAN-1.jpg
1. Anita Sengupta

Anita Sengupta is an aerospace engineer and currently working at NASA’s jet propulsion laboratory (JPL) in Greater Los Angeles area as a project manager. The expert NASA engineer contributed in designing parachute for ‘Curiosity rover’ which landed successfully on Mars Surface. In her younger days she was fascinated by science fiction and also loves motorcycle riding. As youth mentor, she delivered a lecture on Mars exploration at Nehru Centre, Mumbai on August 11, 2013. Nowadays, she is working on an ultra –cold quantum gas experiment that is scheduled to be launched into the ISS (International Space Station) in 2016. Her career highlight was the successful landing of rover on Red planet and she thinks that ‘Man can set foot on Mars one day’.





How come for Bhattarchary,Lulla and Sengupta..their community was not mentioned but for the two South Indian males they being from the TB community was mentioned.

Who wrote this article?

Why didn't the writer mention the community Bhattarcharya,Lulla and Sengupta hail from?
 
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Cannot agree with the premise of the opening post.
Each country is unique with its own contributions to the world and its own set of issues.

There are obvious superstitions and there are more sophisticated superstitions. But they are all one and the same.

It is possible to make a detailed list of western superstitions which have had enormous negative effect on the whole world. What is the point in doing it. There is no need to do any comparisons.

Human beings have the capacity to imagine and superstitions reflect that capacity.

India's contributions to the world in the art of thinking objectively is tremendous. For many historical reasons there is poverty and the powerful are exploiting the poor like everywhere else except they use feudal means. All this will change in the next 50 years or so propelling India into a world power.
 
How come for Bhattarchary,Lulla and Sengupta..their community was not mentioned but for the two South Indian males they being from the TB community was mentioned.

Who wrote this article?

Why didn't the writer mention the community Bhattarcharya,Lulla and Sengupta hail from?

Good observation, Renuka. Even I didn't notice that at the time of posting.. This article is available on this link "topyaps.com/5-prominent-people-indian-origin-working-nasa" There are some links where the names of these two scientists appear all of them surprisingly carry the same remark..
 
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Only tamil brahmins are proud of their caste identity.They would like to wear caste on their sleeves.

Also Brahmins smell another brahmin in near vicinity.lol

TBs these days are not bothered about science or fundamental research.

They have gone commercial.

More interested in becoming top guns in google and other IT companies offering a lot of moola.
 
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Only tamil brahmins are proud of their caste identity.They would like to wear caste on their sleeves.

I strongly condemn such statements.

What is the thread talks about......?

I think it is about Indians, repeat Indians belief on superstitions.

Why drag Tamil Brahmins here....?

Can't one post anything without touching the Tamil Brahmins....?

If that is case, open a separate thread on Tamil Brahmins belief on superstitions and write to heart's content.

Pouring out grumblings has become passion for few.

While there are lot of achievements by the individuals, few talk only about negative things.

What can be expected from a naysayer?

Such droppings of pearls of wisdom by few will certainly derail the thread.
 
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Science is not discouraged by the student because they do not have interest.They think that they can not good pay. But this is not true at all. People who are really good at one specific interest really shine rather than all concentrating and going into Engineering,IT.Since these two fields have become saturated due to volume and lack of good talents. The way to overcome is more career advising professionals who can tell about various branches and avenues which are also very good pay masters and giving a better, long term career for the prosperity of career oriented professionals who can really take interest in other avenues also instead of concentrating their goal on only on Engineering, Medicine and Chartered Accountancy.
 
Some of the alleged rational thinking torch bearers of this Forum may be surprised to found that one in four Americans are considered to be superstitious.

While this being the case, we have this thread questioning why Indians still believe in superstitious belief and rituals.

To start with, I just read an article which I would like to share with members which says among other things that one in four Americans believe to be superstitious.

The thread opener is requested to go through this article and come out with his explanation as to why Americans do believe in such superstitious beliefs….?

It is human nature that some of the rational minds cannot ignore superstitions….

But some come here with a rational mask and try to make others believe that have strong ratinal thoughts.

Here is the article..

Now the question is why Americns believe
superstitious beliefs and rituals?

America’s Top Superstitions — And Where They Come From

If you knock on wood when you say something presumptuous or freak out when you see a broken mirror, you’re not alone — Americans are still very superstitious. Here’s why.

They may seem old-fashioned, but superstitions are still alive and well, according to a new survey. Crowdsourcing website Ranker.com polled 18,000 people on the superstitions they believe in and found that, as a whole, people are still very superstitious.

Here are the top 10 most widely believed superstitions, per the survey:
1. Knocking on wood
2. Wishing on a star
3. Breaking a mirror
4. Four-leaf clover
5. Bad news comes in threes
6. Don’t open an umbrella inside
7. Lucky penny
8. Beginner’s luck
9. Saying “bless you” when someone sneezes
10. Wishing on a wishbone

The top superstitions also varied by age and gender: Women ranked tossing salt over your left shoulder after you spill it as one of their top superstitions, while men and millennials said wishing on a star was theirs. People from Generation X and baby boomers said the lucky penny (getting good luck after you find a heads-up penny) was their No.1 superstitious belief.

Read more at: https://in.news.yahoo.com/whats-behind-these-common-superstitions-174203195.html

Before discussing with the why Indians still believe in supersititious beliefs, why not discuss about Americns belief in such superititions...??

So, first step should be to clean one’s own home as the belief is that if we clean our home then our society will automatically clean,
 
Each country is unique with its own contributions to the world and its own set of issues.


You are right Sir

Here I would like to share few superstitions of chinese:

[h=1]15 Top Chinese Superstitions[/h]China is a land of many popular beliefs, customs and superstitions. This is all part of the Chinese life. These beliefs and customs may be termed as superstitions. They may have their own merits and demerits. But they form part of the quintessence of the life in this Oriental nation. In today’s world of growing globalization and the emergence of China and Asia generally as the main economic growth region, there is heavy traffic of people form other parts of the world to China and Asia. A basic understanding of the popular Chinese superstitions, customs, and beliefs will make it easy for appreciating the socia life of China and easily acclimatize with the land. The following are the main superstitions and beliefs in the Chinese world.

(1) If one hits another person with a broom, the hitter will get bad luck and he will ruin his life.

(2) The Chinese believe that one should keep a well-shaven face. If one wears a moustache it should be well-trimmed. If one violates this norm it will give bad luck.

(3) Another Chinese superstition is that if a dog howls for a few hours in late night, it means someone died somewhere.

Read more at: https://popculture.knoji.com/15-top-chinese-superstitions/
 
How come for Bhattarchary,Lulla and Sengupta..their community was not mentioned but for the two South Indian males they being from the TB community was mentioned.

Doctor Mam,

In such an article, while most look into the message of achievement it conveys, you have gone bit deep and question the author for mention and omitting of community.

What is that we are going to achieve by discussing about this point anyway?

Is it such an important issue really to be discussed about mention and omitting of community of achievers ...etc etc in a public Forum like this.

Why give importance to insignificant issues?

Why not give importance to achievement of individuals?

Why not we try to see things beyond community, caste, creed, etc ?
 
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I think some of the people posting here did not read the post#2.
Most of the Indians winning world recognition are employed overseas.
Without doubt Indians are smart. But they are bogged down by superstitions when they are in India. Even in the movie about Ramanujam, that point comes out.

Indians shine only when they break the barriers imposed on them in India.
If a harmless superstition is used as an Insurance, it may not hinder the progress. For Instance if you cary an umbrella on a sunny day, it may protect you during unexpected shower, but if you are so scared of shower that you refuse to leave the house then it will ruin your life.

Not all superstitions are same. Some are quirks, but they do not control your life.
 
If you're like most people, you occasionally participate in superstitious thinking or behavior often without even realizing you're doing it. Just think: When was the last time you knocked on wood, walked within the lines, avoided a black cat, or read your daily horoscope? These are all examples of superstitions or what Stuart Vyse, PhD, and the author of Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition, calls magical thinking.
More than half of Americans admitted to being at least a little superstitious, according to a recent Gallup poll. Additionally, beliefs in witches, ghosts and haunted houses -- all popular Halloween symbols -- have increased over the past decade. But just what is the psychology behind our magical thinking, and is it hurting or helping us? When does superstitious thinking go too far? Was Stevie Wonder right: When you believe in things that you don't understand, do you suffer?
[h=3]Superstition, Ritual, or Anxiety?[/h] In our quest to understand superstitions, let's start by defining them. After all, not all rituals or beliefs are superstitions. "The dividing line is whether you give some kind of magical significance to the ritual," Vyse tells WebMD.




For example, if an athlete develops a ritual before a game, something Vyse says many coaches encourage, it may help to calm and focus him or her like repeating a mantra. "That's not superstitious," says Vyse. On the other hand, he says if you think tapping the ball a certain number of times makes you win the game, you've entered superstitious territory.
You might be wondering if certain superstitious behaviors -- such as like counting the number of times you tap a ball -- are really a sign of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). People with OCD often have compulsions to do rituals over and over again, often interfering with everyday life. A good example is Jack Nicholson's character in the movie As Good As It Gets, who skips cracks in the sidewalk and eats at the same table in the same restaurant every day, with an inability to cope with any change in routine. While some of the symptoms of OCD can mimic superstitious behavior (and the two aren't mutually exclusive) Vyse says most of the evidence would indicate there is no connection between the two.

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/psychology-of-superstition
 
[h=3]Superstition, Ritual, or Anxiety? continued...[/h]
"We don't think of anxiety disorders [such as OCD] as superstitious thinking. We think of it as irrational thinking, and most of our patients understand that," says Paul Foxman, PhD, an anxiety expert from Burlington, Vt. "But I do have patients that tell me that they believe that if they don't worry about something, then the likelihood of it happening will go up, and that is a superstitious thought," he says.
The key is to pay attention to your own thinking, particularly if you experience any symptoms of anxiety -- tension, excessive worry, trouble sleeping, obsessive thoughts and exhaustion, for example. If you experience these symptoms or find that you have repetitive ritualized behavior that's out of control -- superstitious or not -- get professional help from a doctor or therapist.

Driving Forces

Wanting more control or certainty is the driving force behind most superstitions. We tend to look for some kind of a rule, or an explanation for why things happen. "Sometimes the creation of a false certainty is better than no certainty at all, and that is what much of the research suggests," says Vyse.
Job interviews, testing, and other situations where we want things to go well -- regardless of our own preparation or performance -- can spur superstitious thoughts. "We are often in situations in life where something really important is about to happen, we've prepared for it as best we can, but it's still uncertain; it's still unclear," Vyse says. No matter how confident or prepared you are for an event -- whether it's a football game, a wedding, or a presentation -- things can still happen beyond your control. "Superstitions provide people with the sense that they've done one more thing to try to ensure the outcome they are looking for."

[h=3]Friend or Foe?[/h]A sense of security and confidence are perhaps the greatest benefits we get emotionally from superstitious thinking or behavior -- like carrying an object or wearing an item of clothing that you deem to be lucky.

Foxman says there is a positive placebo effect -- if you think something will help you, it may do just that. "There is a tremendous amount of power in belief," he says. If the outcome is a matter of pure luck, beliefs don't really have any impact, however, when your performance is a key factor in an outcome, superstitious thinking might give you an extra boost.
 
[h=3]Friend or Foe? continued...[/h]
"There can be a real psychological effect of superstitious thoughts," says Vyse. If you've done well before when you had a particular shirt on, for example, it might prove wise to wear the shirt again, if it helps to relieve anxiety and promotes positive thoughts. But this way of thinking can also hinder your performance, if say, you lose your lucky object.
It's not news that expectations can be extremely powerful and suggestive. Studies regularly point to placebo effects (both positive and negative), which are entirely caused by the power of expectations or preconceptions. Yet superstitions can also play a negative role in our lives, especially when combined with a bad habit such as gambling. If you're a compulsive gambler who believes that you can get lucky, then that belief may contribute to your problem.
Phobic (fearful) superstitions can also interfere with our lives, and cause a lot of anxiety, says Vyse. For example, people who are afraid of Friday the 13th might change travel arrangements or skip an appointment because of unnecessary anxiety. These types of superstitions offer no benefit at all.
[h=3]And the Award for Most Superstitious Goes to ...[/h] Being superstitious is something we often learn as children, and according to the Gallup poll, older folks are less likely to believe in superstitions.




Generally speaking, women are more superstitious than men, Vyse says. When was the last time you saw an astrology column in a men's magazine? Women may also experience more anxiety, or at least, more women than men seek help for anxiety problems. Although personality variables are not a strong factor in developing superstition, there is some evidence that if you are more anxious than the average person you're slightly more likely to be superstitious.
Vyse says our locus of control can also be a factor contributing to whether or not we are superstitious. If you have an internal locus of control, you believe that you are in charge of everything; you are the master of your fate and you can make things happen. If you have an external locus of control, "you're sort of buffeted by life, and things happen to you instead of the other way around," Vyse tells WebMD. People with external locus of control are more likely to be superstitious, possibly as a way of getting more power over their lives. "Part of the reason why women are more superstitious than men is that women feel, even in today's modern society, that they have less control over their fate than men do."
Intelligence seems to have little to do with whether or not we subscribe to superstitions. Vyse says that on the Harvard campus -- where one would assume there are a lot of intelligent people -- students frequently rub the foot of the statue of John Harvard for good luck. In a sense, a superstition, like other rituals, can become part of a campus, community or culture, and can help bring people together. "Most of the superstitions people engage in are perfectly fine, and are not pathological," says Vyse. Now that's good news, and it's just in time for Halloween.

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/psychology-of-superstition?page=3
 
It's not often that a business school professor gets to quote from a legend in the world of funk music, so let me begin with a few words from Stevie Wonder:

When you believe in things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer.
Superstition ain't the way

Three lines from the 1972 hit Superstition sum up a common issue in many cultures. No matter how advanced and rational we might like to think we are, superstition is a practice that remains widespread and has an impact – often detrimental – on our economic lives.

Studies have shown, for example, that many people behave more cautiously when making financial decisions on Friday 13th than on any other day of the month. Likewise many commercial and residential tower blocks in the US and other countries around the world don't have a 13th floor. Those that do, may find they have to offer special discounts to entice tenants.

And in many countries horoscopes remain a popular feature of newspapers, guiding readers and frequently focusing on the optimal times to make or avoid key financial decisions and transactions.

So do we "suffer" - as Stevie Wonder suggests - financially and economically speaking, as a result of superstition?

Even in countries ranked as highly educated, superstitious practices persist when logic suggests that more rational behaviour brought about by education means they should be swept aside.

In Singapore for example, ranked among the most highly educated societies in the world, the numbers 8 and 4 still carry particular significance for many in the majority Chinese community.



In Chinese culture eight is traditionally believed to be lucky as it sounds similar to "prosperity", while four – sounding like the word for "death" – is believed to be unlucky.

The Beijing Olympics was a prominent example of this, with the opening ceremony timed to kick off and at precisely 8:08pm on the eighth day of the eighth month, 2008.

While superstitions such as this might be seen at face value to be harmless quirks, when they impact consumer decisions they produce a cost.

Taken cumulatively, those costs can then impact on national development and welfare.

Why then does superstition persist in advanced economies and even among educated people?



While superstitions might be seen at face value to be harmless quirks, when they impact consumer decisions they produce a cost.




http://thinkbusiness.nus.edu/articles/item/251-the-impact-of-superstition-writing-on-the-wall
 
Psychologists and anthropologists suggest that individuals who follow superstitious practices do so to cope with misfortune and uncertainty and to make sense of a complex world.

Other research has suggested that superstitious beliefs can endure if the probability of them being exposed as untrue is low. If there is always some chance of a bad outcome when following superstition and some chance of a good outcome when not, an individual might never realise that it is untrue and continue to follow it.

Whatever the reasoning, given its potential impact on human and economic development, understanding and quantifying the impact superstition has on our economic lives is important for a variety of reasons, especially in guiding and developing policy.

In particular it can help measure the benefits from investing in education, to the extent that such investment reduces the tendency to follow superstitious practices, as well as developing skills and building knowledge.

Given the essential role of well-functioning asset markets in economic development, it is also important to gauge the impact, if any, that superstition has on those markets.

For example, if superstitious beliefs affect price signals, the allocation of resources may be distorted, with negative implications for welfare and economic growth.

One recent academic study for example examined IPOs on the Shenzhen and Shanghai stock exchanges in China between 1991 and 2005 where listed companies are identified by a numerical code.

The study found that, consistent with Chinese superstition over the numbers eight and four, newly listed, ostensibly "lucky" shares (i.e. with codes that included at least one lucky digit and no unlucky digit) initially traded at a premium.

That "luck", however, was found not to be permanent with the premium dissipating within three years.http://thinkbusiness.nus.edu/articles/item/251-the-impact-of-superstition-writing-on-the-wall
 
Is there any country under the sun where there is no belief for superstitions...?

Now let us see how superstitions practiced across different countries...

Superstitions across different countries – An Overview


What is a superstition?

Some believe that a superstition is anything that people believe that is based on myth, magic, or irrational thoughts. They are beliefs that are steeped in lore or tradition, and it is usually difficult to pinpoint the exact origin.
Superstitions are also known as old wives’ tales, legends, and traditions. They may involve animals, graveyards, ghosts, inanimate objects, or even other people.
Superstition is also believed to be a credulous belief or notion, not based on reason, knowledge or experience. The word is often used negatively to refer to folk beliefs which are deemed to be irrational.
Here is a brief compilation of Superstitions which are prevalent across different countries.

China


During Chinese New year
· On the stroke of midnight, every door and window in the house has to be opened to allow the old year to go out is one of the Chinese superstition they adhere to.
· Many people also abstain from eating meat on the first day of Chinese New Year because it is believed that this will ensure a long and happy life. Some may eat a whole fish, that represents togetherness and abundance, or a chicken with its head and feet intact, which symbolizes prosperity.
· Any noodles in your bowl should be left uncut, as a sign of long life. Plants and flowers also play a significant role in symbolizing rebirth and new growth. A home is thought to be lucky if a plant blooms on New Year’s Day, as this foretells the start of a prosperous year.
· All debts had to be paid by this time. Nothing should be lent on this day, as anyone who does will be lending all the year.
· Everyone should refrain from using foul language and bad or unlucky words. Negative terms and the word “four”, sounding like the word for death, are not to be uttered. Death and dying are never mentioned and ghost stories are totally taboo. References to the past year are also avoided as everything should be turned toward the New Year and a new beginning.
· If you cry on New Year’s Day, you will cry all through the year. Therefore, children are tolerated and are not spanked, even though they are mischievous.
· On New Year’s Day, you are not supposed to wash your hair because it would mean you would have washed away good luck for the New Year.
· Red clothing is preferred during this festive occasion. Red is considered a bright, happy color, sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future. It is believed that appearance and attitude during New Year’s sets the tone for the rest of the year. Children and unmarried friends, as well as close relatives are given little red envelopes with crisp one dollar bills inserted, for good fortune.
· The first person one meets and the first words heard are significant as to what the fortunes would be for the entire year. It is a lucky sign to see or hear songbirds or red-colored birds or swallows.
· It is considered unlucky to greet anyone in their bedroom so that is why everyone, even the sick, should get dressed and sit in the living room.
· Do not use knives or scissors on New Year’s Day as this may cut off fortune.
General Chinese superstitions:
When having a baby
· If you’re pregnant, use of glue will cause a difficult birth.
· If you strike an animal during pregnancy, the newborn child will look like that animal and behave like one.
· You should never praise a newborn baby because it will invite evil spirits and ghosts.
· A concave navel means a prosperous life.
· A baby with more than one hair crown will be mischievous and disobedient.
· A baby with wide and thick ears will live prosperously.
Before you get married
· Wedding clothes should be red, yellow and/or white.
· Couples with the same surname cannot marry; even if they are not related, they still belong to the same ancestry.
· A boy, preferably born a Dragon, must roll over the newlywed’s matrimonial bed to ensure good luck and a baby boy.
· Never marry someone who is older or younger by 3 or 6 years.
Good Feng Shui
· The number of steps in a staircase should be even-numbered.
· It is bad luck to have two room doors face each other.
· It is bad luck if your door or gate directly faces a road.
· Don’t build your house facing the north.
· The master’s bedroom should not be situated right above the garage.
· The dining area should not be under a second-floor toilet.
Going to funerals
· An improper funeral will bring ill fortune and disaster.
· Statues of deities must be covered with red cloth of paper.
· Mirrors must be hidden; a person who sees the reflection of the coffin will have a death in his/her family.
· White cloth must be hung across the doorway of the house.
· The deceased’s children and grandchildren should not cut their hair for 49 days.
· After leaving the place, do not go straight home lest the ghost of the dead follows you.
Lucky and unlucky colors
· Red is the color of blood or life and will bring happiness, wealth, fame, and good luck.
· Black is the color of feces and is associated with evil, disaster and bad fortune.
· White is the color of mother’s milk. It symbolizes moderation, purity, honesty and life and balances red and black.
Lucky and unlucky numbers
· The luckiest number is eight because its Chinese word also means “prosper”.
· The unluckiest number is four as it sounds like the Chinese word for death.
· Seven can also signify death.
· The number one means loneliness.
· The number “9” is good, because nine in Cantonese sounds like the word “sufficient”.

About time
· Clipping toenails or fingernails at night is bad luck; the person will be visited by a ghost.
· If a dog howls continuously at night, this means death.
· Hearing a crow cawing between 3 and 7 am means the hearer will receive gifts; hearing a crow caw between 7 and 11am means rain and wind; and between 11am and 1pm means quarrels.
· If a man’s ears burn between 11pm and 1pm, there will be harmony between him and his wife; if they burn between 1 and 3 in the afternoon, a guest will soon arrive.
Things you should never do
· Beating a person with a broom will rain bad luck upon that person for years.
· Wearing a moustache is considered bad luck.
· Never point at the moon or your ears might get chopped off.
· Don’t sweep the floor on New Year’s Day lest you sweep away the good fortune.
· Don’t keep a pet turtle or it will slow down your business.
While many Chinese people today may not believe in these dos and don’ts, these Chinese superstitions (by the name of “traditions” and “customs”) are still practiced. They are kept because most families realize that it is these “old stuffs”, whether believed or not, that provide continuity with the past and provide the family with an identity.

Greece:

· Although some of the Greeks believe that it brings bad luck to kill a bat, but keeping a bat bone is considered to protect them from evil eye.
· Other Islanders believe quite the opposite. They think that bats are unholy creatures and should be avoided at all costs, and would never dream of carrying a piece of one as a talisman.
· Every typical Greek house has a cactus growing near its door – they believe that it saves them from troubles.
· Any Greek knows that if he sneezes, somebody thinks about him.
· Bread is considered a gift from God.No bread is ever thrown away.
· Crows are considered omens of bad news, misfortune and death.
· The most commonly talked about ancient superstition in the Greek Isles are the evil eyes which can strike at any given moment. . Blue is the colour that wards off the evil of the eye, but it is also commonly thought that blue eyed people are exceptional givers of it. So beware when a blue eyed person pays you a compliment, according to the superstition, it could be disastrous.
· Another way to ward off the evil eye is with garlic.If you can’t brave the smell of garlic, there is an alternative. When you get a compliment remember to say ‘Skorda (garlic)’ under your breath and spit three times on your own person. If you know the individual that is complimenting you, tell them to spit on you too.
· Fish are believed to be wise and knowledgeable. But the Church also sees the fish as a revered symbol of silence. Fish don’t speak or make noise.
· It is thought that garlic not only wards off the evil eye but also keeps away evil spirits and demons.
· Never hand some one a knife. Set it down and let them pick it up, or else you will get into a fight with that person.
· Greeks believe that Money attracts money, so never leave your pockets, purses or wallets completely empty and never completely empty your bank account. Always leave at least a coin or two. It is also considered good luck that when you give a gift of a wallet or a purse, that you put a coin or two in it before giving it to the recipient.
· Greek Orthodox priests are very revered. When greeting one, it is customary to kiss his hand or ring in respect. But it’s considered a bad omen to see one walking in the street, and most folk whisper ‘Skorda (garlic)’ under their breath.
· We are all familiar with the superstition of throwing salt over our left shoulder to repel evil or a demon. In Greek Folklore, salt can be used to get rid of an unwanted human presence as well.
· If you have an unwanted guest in your home and you want them to leave. All you have to do is sprinkle salt behind them. The powers of the salt will chase him out.
· It is also customary to sprinkle salt in a new home before you occupy it, as the salt will drive any evil out and away from you and your family.
· Overturned shoes (soles up) are considered very bad luck and even omens of death. Never let your shoes lay upside down. If you accidentally take them off and they land soles up, turn them over immediately and say ‘Skorda (garlic)’ and a spit or two won’t hurt either.
· Greeks spit for a number of superstitious reasons. The most common is to keep evil away from you. For example, if you hear of some one speaking of misfortune or bad news, and fear the possibility of the same thing happening to you, you would spit three times on your own person.
· Talismans or ‘Filahta’ are regularly used in Greece. Most commonly you will see these charms pinned to the backs of small children’s and infant’s clothing. But you will also find that many of the older people carry them in their pockets and purses or have them discretely pinned to their clothing too.
· Different from Western cultures, it is Tuesday the 13th of the month that is considered unlucky in Greece and not Friday the 13th.

UK

· In UK it is believed that you would be lucky if you meet a black cat.
· Unlucky are those who break a mirror, see a crow.
· Not one Englishman will open his umbrella near the door or will put his new shoes on the table.

Ireland

· Any Irish knows that a werewolf is afraid of water.
· The Irish place metals on high levels. Blacksmithers are respected, since they are considered to dispose of bad spirits and diseases.

Italy

· Italians think you’re lucky to hear a cat sneezing.
· It’s not good if a bird enters through your window.
· If an Italian sees a nun, he will seek to touch a metal, so that the luck doesn’t leave him.

Japan

· Japanese are afraid to be photoed in three. The one from the middle is expected to die. For avoiding misfortune, Japanese will not talk to man who talks while sleeping.
· If you play with fire, you will wet your bed.
· If you rest just after eating, you will become a cow/pig/elephant.
· If you whistle or play a flute at night, snakes will come to you.
· A cold mid-section will cause diarrhea
· The first dream of a new year will come true
· Breaking a comb or the cloth strap of a “geta” wooden sandal breaking is an omen of misfortune.
· Stepping on the cloth border of a tatami mat brings bad luck.
· If you drive past a funeral, you must hide your thumb in a fist. This is because the Japanese word for thumb literally translates as “parent-finger” and hiding it is considered protection for your parent. If you don’t, your parent will die.
· There are several unlucky numbers in Japanese. Traditionally, 4 and 9 are unlucky. Four is sometimes pronounced shi, which is also the word for death.
· Nine is also sometimes pronounced ku, which can mean suffering.
· 13 is also occasionally thought of as unlucky, although this is imported from Western culture. Because of these unlucky numbers, sometimes levels or rooms with 4 or 9 in them don’t exist in hospitals or hotels, and particularly in the maternity section of a hospital, the room number 43 is avoided because it can literally mean “still birth.” Therefore, when giving gifts such as sets of plates, they are normally sets of three or five, never four.
· If you go to a funeral, you should throw spread salt over yourself before entering your home. This is believed to be cleansing.
· You should never sleep with your head in North position or you will have a short life
· Chopsticks should not be stuck upright into food, especially rice. Chopsticks are only stuck upright into rice in the bowl on the altar at a funeral.
· Cutting your fingernails or toenails at night is bad luck. If you do so, it is believed that you will not be with your parents at their deathbed.
· You should never write a person’s name in red ink
· Use of the Maneki Neko or “lucky cat.” Many businesses such as shops or restaurants have figures of such beckoning cats. These are considered to be lucky and bring in money and fortune.
· If u see a spider in the morning, it means good luck so you shouldn’t kill it, but if you see one at night, it means bad luck so you can kill it.
· If you catch a crow’s eyes, something bad will happen.
· If a black cat crosses your path, something bad will happen.

Thailand

· People born on:
Sunday, aviod doing anything auspicious on a Friday.
Monday, aviod doing anything auspicious on a Sunday.
Tuesday, aviod doing anything auspicious on a Monday.
Wednesday, aviod doing anything auspicious on a Tuesday.
Thursday, aviod doing anything auspicious on a Saturday.
Friday, aviod doing anything auspicious on a Wednesday.
Saturday, aviod doing anything auspicious on a Wednesday at nighttime.
· Another auspicious occasion is the choosing of a Thai name. Most people consult an astrologer or monk to select a name that will bring the child good fortune, health and happiness.
· If you make jokes when eating a ghost will steal your rice
· A ghost will enter your house if you stand in the doorway
· A ghost will curse you if you sing while eating
· You will see a ghost if you bend down and look between your legs

Read more at: http://dazeinfo.com/2010/06/22/superstitions-across-different-countries-an-overview/
 
Lucky homes

Returning to the example of Singapore, studying the effect of superstition on housing prices in the city offers a good case for measuring the magnitude and economic impact of superstitious practice.

Not only does Singapore's ethnic make-up offer an ideal cultural mix for such a study, but government regulations specifically prohibit omitting sequential numbers in floor and unit numbers, or any kind of selective numbering more desirable properties.

In our research we examined how traditional perceptions of lucky and unlucky numbers – 8s and 4s – affect new sales in the city's housing market.

In advanced economies more people buy homes than invest in other assets like equities, so investigating the effect of superstitious beliefs on the pricing of residential property gives a broad view on their impact.

http://thinkbusiness.nus.edu/articles/item/251-the-impact-of-superstition-writing-on-the-wall
 
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All superstitions are not bad.... there are good ones too......

Indian Beliefs and Superstitions


Updated on April 18, 2016

India Beliefs


Indian beliefs and superstitions are passed down from generation to generation.These faiths have sprung with an objective to protect from evil spirits, but some were based on scientific reasoning. Astrology is an integral part of Indian culture. Even today many people prefer to do good things such as entering a newly made home (Gruhapravesha) , fixing a marriage proposal, fixing a marriage date, entry of a bride to her new home, starting a new business etc, according to their astrological belief.

Excerpts:

Superstitions considered Good in India


These are some of the superstitions which are considered as good omen.

· While one is going out of the house and see a married lady with flowers on her head and kumkum on her forehead it is believed that the trip will be successful.

· If you see an elephant on your way while going somewhere, your purpose of going will be fruitful. It is believed that Lord Ganesh, the elephant God of Indian mythology, removes all the obstacles on the way.
· Seeing a peacock on a journey is also considered lucky.
· If you notice a crow cowing near your house you are likely to get visitors to your house.
· Eating sweet curd before exams brings good luck.
· If the girl's horoscope is matching well with the boy's horoscope, when they get married, they will have a successful married life.
· When a discussion is going on if you hear a lizard making a noise on the ceiling or on the wall, it is a good omen to let you know that it is true.
· There is also a strong belief in the power of dreams, as divine warnings. Dreaming of gods, demons, auspicious animals or any other auspicious thing is good.
· Continuous hiccups are considered a sign of someone close badly remembering you.
· Mirror, a pot full of water, flag, light, a pair of fish and turmeric are auspicious articles. On getting up from the bed in the early morning, if a person is lucky to see any of these auspicious articles it will bring him good luck . He is also fortunate if he sees first a lotus flower, gold, the ruler, light, the sun, fire, the sea, a temple tower, a hill with signs of rain a cow and a calf, his own right hand, a lunatic, a black monkey, an elephant or a percussion instrument called Mridanga. Seeing his wife's face is also considered a good omen.

· To avoid seeing anything unpleasant in the morning, many people look at the palms of their hands as soon as they awaken and recite this invocation: "In the tips of the fingers resides Goddess Lakshmi; in the middle, Goddess Saraswathi; in the palm of the hand resides Goddess Parvathi; looking at my hands, I begin my day."

· The colour, spots, stripes, chirping or twittering of the lizard and where it falls on a person's body are said to indicate future happenings.

Why do Indians still follow these beliefs?


It is an interesting question. With the progress of science and popular awakening, many of the superstitions have already lost their hold on the minds of the people. But many of them are so deeply rooted that no amount of knowledge or science can weaken their hold or fully shake them off.

Read more at: https://exemplore.com/misc/India-Beliefs-and-Superstitions
 


MY VIEW: I Found That 5 Common Superstitions in India Actually Had Logical Explanations!


The Oxford dictionary defines superstition as a widely held but irrational belief in supernatural influences, especially as leading to good or bad luck, or a practice based on such a belief. Some of us are superstitious while others find the related practices ridiculous. But believe it or not, many superstitions have some logical explanation behind their origin. Here are a few of them.

1. A cat crossing your path:


I am sure you have heard, or probably even said something like ”Today isn’t going to be a good day for me; a cat just crossed my path.” Have you ever wondered in what possible way can that little creature harm you or bring you ‘bad luck’?
Well, in olden days people used to travel by carts that were pulled by domesticated animals. When passing through forests at night, the carriage animals used to get scared and act chaotic when they sensed wild cats such as leopards, cheetahs, and tigers crossing their path. The travellers warned others not to proceed when a cat passes their path.
Today, this is of no significance and we are afraid of black cats for no reason. Groucho Marx once said “If a black cat crosses your path, it signifies that the animal is going somewhere.”


2. Hanging a lemon and seven green chillies in shops:




superstition2.jpg




Read more at: http://www.thebetterindia.com/51153/explanation-behind-superstitions-in-india/
 
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