The Cognitive Basis of Superstition and Belief in the Supernatural

What is superstition, and what is the psychological basis behind it? What drives belief in the supernatural, and is there any evolutionary basis for it? Are we merely driven to detect patterns in chaos, or is there something more to it? Let's dig into this now!

Children’s belief in an invisible person inhibits cheating: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2011.0...
Complex societies precede moralizing gods throughout world history: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-10...
How superstition improves performance: https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797610372631

Script by Caitlyn Finton
Animation by Ignacio Triana:    / unraveled  

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