Why did we feel the need to invent superstitions?

Answer 1

It is the easiest way to make up a story to explain the unexplainable, due to what ever the limits are of finding out the truth to explain what ever it is; it is a shortcut, we humans like shortcuts, and will believe practically anything.

Answer 2

To explain what we didn't know. This still goes on, today. Many professional atheletes invent new superstitions. When one is at the top of elite performers, the difference between number one and number two is hard to define, and certainly harder to control. Sometimes a belief in a luck pair of socks, or rubbing the equipment manager's head, or touching or skipping a single step in the way to the field is all it takes to give an athlete a bit of confidence and that little extra edge.

My wife will still toss salt over her shoulder if she spills any at the table. She insists she is not superstitious, but says, "Why take a chance?"

Answer 3

Well, I disagree with the whole idea that it is not necessarily an invention. Someone creative invented or created the whole ideal. For example...Once my son dropped a fork and I said, oh, a woman is going to visit you and the doorbell rang and a woman asked if a baseball he threw over the fence was his. Another time he dropped a knife and I said, oh, a man is going to visit you and the phone rang, it was his counselor. The third time he dropped a spoon, but I said nothing. He said, Mom, what's going to happen if I drop a spoon, will a child visit me. I said, I have never heard of that one, but sure why not. A friend of his called and asked him to attend a birthday party. Sure, they are all coincidence, but I had heard about the first two and the third I made up. I still like snag's ideas better of why superstitions are made up. It's very believeable.

Answer 4

Superstitions are invented to explain the unexpainable in the reality of mystery we live in. When people have an explanation to a mystery, oftentimes, it doesn't matter if the explanation is true or not. Explanations provide relief and comfort.

Answer 5

They probably originated as a practical joke on a gullible person, who after that time continued to believe in it. After this the gullible person would pass it on by telling other gullible people who in turn kept it in practice. Logic sometimes takes a backseat to feeling such as apprehension and intuition. All in all, with people believing all of the unlogical things that they do, it isn't a surprise that superstitions are still a big part of our culture.

Answer 6

Its about self confidence.

People are unsure about something, are going into a stressful situation, so the superstition boosts them.

EG 'I always go into my exam with my lucky teddy' - The fact they have teddy brings them that extra bit of confidence.

There is also the 'historical factor' EG bad luck to whistle on stage - well years ago whistles were used as signals to drop scenery, so a bad placed whistle could result in a piece of scenery on your head !

Answer 7

unfortunately for some the second they open their eyes their every movements and actions base on superstition.

if you ask why i will reply i do not know.

for some they use it when they need to defend or make some sort of excuse in order to relief of themselves from unhappy or something that they do not like, so they involve some of their so call logic around it.

believe it or not some superstitious things where based on facts or some sort of truth, and people really do believe in it.

as long as we know how far we can go, i think some superstitious stuff is good for our soul.

i might be wrong.

Answer 8

Invent?

Superstitions are more of a folklore passed down through many, many years...not actually "invented" like the telephone or electricity.

They are used to prevent people from doing silly things. Walking under a ladder can be dangerous, can't it? Breaking a mirror can cut you, can't it?

It's basically a method to keep stupid people from hurting themselves....stupid people and impressionable children.

Love,
Snag

Answer 9

Looking for Patterns. Humans like to have motifs and models in their lives.

If every time me, my friends and relatives pass under a ladder during a five year period some dread or drastic event takes place that injures us would we not stop passing under ladders? Would we not tell or warn others of the phenomonon.?

Answer 10

I think 'invent' is a poor choice of words. Superstitions are part of cultural beliefs. They are a manifestation of our fear of and respect for the unknown. In them, we see humanity's innate reach towards something greater than our selves and the physical world.

Answer 11

People do NOT invent superstitions. They are taught them by family and culture.