Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 1, 2026
06:42
Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
Published on: September 28, 2018
The evolution of superstitious and superstition-like behaviour
1Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, 7 Divinity Avenue, Harvard, MA 02138, USA. kfoster@cgr.harvard.edu
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|September 11, 2008
Summary
Natural selection can favor superstitious behaviors if occasional correct associations provide significant fitness benefits. This evolutionary model suggests that errors in cause-and-effect assessment are common, especially with low to moderate real associations.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Superstitious behaviors, often seen as irrational, are poorly understood in evolutionary biology.
- These behaviors arise from incorrect cause-and-effect assignments, common in psychology and popular culture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a model explaining when natural selection favors assigning causality between events.
- To investigate the evolutionary basis of behaviors that appear superstitious.
Main Methods:
- A simple mathematical model was developed to analyze the conditions favoring causal assessment strategies.
- The model incorporates principles akin to Hamilton's rule and Pascal's wager.
Main Results:
- Natural selection can favor strategies with frequent errors if correct associations yield large fitness benefits.
- Incorrect assessments are most frequent when the true association probability is low to moderate.
- Limitations in assessing causal probabilities can lead to lumping non-causal with causal associations.
Conclusions:
- Superstitious or seemingly superstitious behaviors are an inevitable aspect of adaptive behavior across all organisms.
- Evolutionary pressures can shape organisms to make frequent errors in causal assessment for survival benefits.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Magical Thinking
Magical thinking encompasses the belief in assumptions that defy logical reasoning yet appear intuitively convincing. It is a common psychological phenomenon that persists across various cultural and individual contexts. While these assumptions contradict empirical evidence and scientific laws, they often serve meaningful psychological roles in promoting emotional resilience and a sense of control, especially under stress or uncertainty.Thought-Action Fusion and the Law of SimilarityA key...
01:20Evolutionary Psychology
Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...
01:09Preparedness and Phobias
Human fear responses to certain stimuli, such as darkness, heights, deep water, and blood, can often arise despite the absence of direct negative experiences. This phenomenon is rooted in evolutionary psychology, which posits that humans have developed a predisposition to fear stimuli that historically posed significant survival threats. This predisposition, known as preparedness, suggests that early humans who developed a fear of potentially dangerous entities, such as venomous snakes and...
01:29Instinct Theory
Instinct theory proposes that innate biological instincts, like animal behavioral patterns, primarily drive human behavior. These instincts are inborn, not learned, and are fundamental to decision-making and action. Just as animals rely on instincts for critical survival functions such as migration, nest building, and defense, humans are also believed to exhibit behaviors rooted in evolutionary needs. For example, the instinct to reproduce motivates sexual behavior, while territorial instincts...
01:28Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences
Social behavior is a complex phenomenon that arises from the interaction between biological predispositions and environmental influences. This intricate interplay shapes how individuals think, feel, and act in various social contexts. Understanding these mechanisms requires insights from psychology, neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary theory.Environmental Influences on Social BehaviorEnvironmental factors, including temperature, odors, and visual stimuli, play a crucial role in shaping...
01:28Behaviorism
The field of behaviorism was pioneered by figures such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner fundamentally shifted the focus of psychology to the observable and controllable aspects of human and animal behavior. This shift marked a critical evolution in the discipline, emphasizing scientific rigor and experimental methodology.
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...