How is it that, in our modern day society that we, as rational human beings, continue to believe in superstitions? How is it that we are fooled so easily? I think the reason magic, and for that matter superstitions, are so successful is that we want to believe. We want to be deceived. We want to take things for what they appear to be.

Most, if not all, of us are guilty of some sort of superstition. I myself carry a lucky coin, which I reserve for special occasions such as tests. Even though I regard myself as a reasonable person, at least the majority of the time, why do I believe that a relatively commonplace piece of metal will increase my scores on tests? Honestly, I have no clue why. Perhaps it is because I associate good things happening to me in my childhood when I first acquired the coin. Obviously we are not born with superstitions. When I first received the coin, I did not regard it to be my good luck charm and I cannot help but wonder whether it was societal influence that made me pick a good luck charm. Indeed, why are some good luck charms, such as rabbit feet, coins, or horseshoes, more common places than other objects?

After reading chapter three I couldn’t help comparing myself to the pigeons whose "superstitions" were conditioned by the random dispersal of food. I think that everyone, at some point in their lives, mistakenly believes that they have control, or at least influence, over the course of events. What I found of particular interest in the reading were the more "advanced" superstition tests performed on adults. It is amazing the amount of rituals or behaviors that formed by different people placed under the same conditions. However, I completely see why these people acted the way they did. My high school soccer team was filled with superstitions. I think maybe some superstitions are not unfounded however. For example, we started every game with a team chant. While this may be superstitious in some regards, I also believe that it excites everyone on the team and puts the mind into game mode. The extra adrenaline definitely gives our team an advantage, however small, over the other team.

I think the most clearly defined example of the way in which we believe we can change the outcome of certain events is the example of gambling Vyse used. Here is a pure game of numbers. There are certain odds and the chances of winning are completely random. So why is it that millions of people head to Las Vegas every year to play at games where they are favored to lose? I believe the answer is that we like to hope, we like to think we can control the outcome of events. And what about the popular magic shows at Las Vegas?

I feel that positive reinforcement is one of the best ways to learn. While sometimes a person or creature may be mistaken and believe that they can actually control the outcome of events, as Vyse mentioned, the payment of their devotion is relatively small while the benefit realized may be quite rewarding. The same reasoning goes toward religion. For in many ways religion is superstitious. We have no real way of knowing if there is a God. I am by no means dismissing religion, but I feel that it is interesting that, like the pigeons that developed different superstitious mannerisms, so has man formed different religions to coincide with different beliefs.

Superstitions form an important part of our society and our personal beliefs. While not at all practical, I believe that they lend us a sense of identity and maybe even a means to attempt to explain the events that occur around us.