Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Compulsivity and superstitiousness

R O Frost1, M S Krause, M J McMahon

  • 1Department of Psychology, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063.

Behaviour Research and Therapy
|May 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Characteristics of a human monoclonal autoantibody to the thyrotropin receptor: sequence structure and function.

Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association·2004
Same author

Acupuncture associated pneumothorax.

Emergency medicine journal : EMJ·2004
Same author

Low-dose computed tomography surveillance of patients with testicular tumours.

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2004
Same author

The public health response to a case of Lassa fever in London in 2000.

The Journal of infection·2004
Same author

Assessing mental health in primary care research using standardized scales: can it be carried out over the telephone?

Psychological medicine·2004
Same author

Chylomicron-remnant-like particles modify production of vasoactive mediators by endothelial cells.

Biochemical Society transactions·2004

This study found that superstitious beliefs and behaviors are linked to obsessive-compulsive experiences. Specifically, compulsive checking and obsessional thoughts correlated with superstitiousness, suggesting a role for perceived control.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Psychopathology

Background:

  • Superstitious beliefs and behaviors are common cognitive phenomena.
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
  • The role of perceived control may link these phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between superstitious beliefs/behaviors and obsessive-compulsive experiences.
  • To investigate specific correlations between different types of superstitious and obsessive-compulsive phenomena.

Main Methods:

  • Correlational analysis was used to examine the relationships.
  • Measures included assessments of superstitious beliefs and behaviors.
  • Obsessive-compulsive experiences were assessed using the Obsessional Thoughts Questionnaire (OTQ), the Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), and the Padua Inventory Checking Scale (CAC-R).

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Both superstitious beliefs and behaviors showed significant correlations with measures of compulsivity and obsessionality.
  • Compulsive checking (CAC-R) was correlated with superstitiousness, but compulsive cleaning (MOCI) was not.
  • Both subscales of the Obsessional Thoughts Questionnaire (OTQ) were correlated with superstitiousness.

Conclusions:

  • Superstitiousness is associated with specific aspects of obsessive-compulsive phenomena, particularly checking compulsions and obsessional thoughts.
  • These findings suggest that perceived control may be a relevant factor in understanding obsessive-compulsive experiences.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms linking superstition and OCD.