why are some people superstitious??

Question

was it ----learnt by themselves/taught by others??

Answer 1

By believing in superstitions some people think they can control their own own destinies, therefore, control other peoples destinies. Basically it is ignorance and a lack of faith. Bad things will happen to all of us, but we are also given the faith and the minds to overcome.
My grandmother believed leaving clothes on the clothes line all night caused cancer. Her mother believed if a baby saw it's refelction in a mirror, it would stunt the child's growth.
A long time ago, superstitions were a way of coping with the unknown. We have to much information in this day and age to believe things like this, but we are not immune to rationalizing cause and effect like our parents/grandparents did.

Answer 2

The human mind is a powerful tool, and when one believes in something whether subconciously or openly, eventually it becomes real for them no matter how ridiculous it is or sounds for others. Things like knocking on wood or, even, taking a look at OCD, rituals help protect them from their conjured up fears.
So don't assume it's all a load of crap. Superstitions may not be scientifically real, but they are and can be very real for you and other people if you fall to obsessing over them.
It can be backed up by others, too. When I was a child, I always was taught of the horrors or Hell and how that if I wasn't a Christian I'd go there. I'm not one now, but even still the idea haunts me a little. The same goes for ghost stories or myths for other people, like how some believe in Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster.

Answer 3

For most, it could be because it was instilled in them at a very young age. Such as for me, I was taught a certain way to 'pray' (it's not really praying, it's just a sort of chinese way of showing respects to elders), because the difference between my hands (fingers intercoursed, fists, palms opened or closed), could mean I wish good health to them, or I was doing a hand motion one does when someone has died (I still really don't remember how to do it).

Others, it's because of experience, I was at work the other day and it was unusually slow, I said it out loud and someone immediately said 'knock on wood!' as a reflex. Weirdly enough, I did, and it didn't get busy. However, yesterday someone else said what I had said and I told them to knock on wood, but they didn't (there was actually just kind of fake wood to knock on). After that it became weirdly busy for the next hour and a half (it was 6 already, usually busy 5:00-7:00, yesterday it was busy 6-7:45).

Answer 4

It is a sweeping generalization to say that those who believes in what we call "superstitions" are ignorant or stupid. Outsiders define certain beliefs and practices "superstitious" because these are irrelevant to them. But see how an outsider defines his own beliefs and religious practices... he would define them not superstitious but deeds of faith. We define "them" ignorant, stupid and superstitious because they espouse beliefs and practices different or irrelevant from what we believe it.

How does one acquired these beliefs and practices? By tradition... it was taught and learned. All human beings are drawn to these, no matter how objective or scientific you may claim to be. Let me add one more, these were reappropriated. Once you were taught about these, you validate whether these were true. Once validated by experience, you become to have a strong conviction about it. Outsiders consider it superstitious, but insiders consider it wisdom.

A scientist would define a religious superstitious without examining that he (the scientist) have developed his own sacred belief and practices, albeit in the scientic terms and realm, exchanging the beliefs in the spirits to the flow of energy forces, exchanging practices from rituals to experiments.

What is the difference between a scientist and a "superstitious"? Its the way "we" define them. How did they developed their beliefs and practices? It is both learned, taught and appropriated.

Answer 5

Everbody has their own sets of thinking. No right or wrong.
We can explain by saying some :
1) Excuse for themselves
2) Real experience of the unbelieveable incident happen in their life. such as ghost / spiritual things
3) The unexplainable 6th sense tell them so

Answer 6

Ignorance

Answer 7

Ignorance combined with taking silly things happening in life seriously.

Answer 8

Because stupidity and ignorance abounds in small minds.

Answer 9

due to :
-parental teaching
-school/college teaching
-religion
-geographical location
-peer group / society.
-fear
-things beyond our understanding/control,etc.

Answer 10

to seek for comfort from their imagination