Superstition involves belief in a supernatural process, such as opening an umbrella in the house causing bad luck or quotes like "touch wood", which refers to not bringing bad luck to oneself or others, and even to “stitions,” which are non-supernatural beliefs that involve health practices like wearing copper bracelets for arthritis. Being superstitious is something we often learn as children. While many of us come to recognize that these superstitions are not valid, countless people insist that certain supernatural or magical phenomena are fact. But if they aren't logical, why do people tend to believe them? Most superstitions have been around for many generations, and individuals with similar cultural backgrounds generally practice the same types of superstitions. I and many of my family and friends practice superstitious behaviors, often without realizing it. If the claims are not true and not based on any scientific or logical evidence, then why don't people recognize that they are false and stop passing them on? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay One reason seems to be simply because other people tell them these things are true and individuals tend to believe them. Another problem seems to be that superstitions are generally vague enough that no particular case is ever clearly false. Superstitious people are also very good at making excuses for why things didn't go as planned. These individuals can easily visualize magical effects or supernatural processes. Many of these superstitions involve having good luck or bad luck, but since we don't know what form the luck will take, there is no way of knowing whether the prediction is true or false. Likewise, there will sometimes be cases where the expected effect of superstition will come true. For example, maybe someone will wear a rabbit's foot when they win at the casino. Not only does this reinforce the so-called "superstition" of the individuals involved, but the superstitious story is very likely to circulate, thus reinforcing it for many others. However, wanting and needing more control or certainty is perhaps the dynamic force behind most practiced superstitions. We tend to look for some sort of decree or explanation for why certain things happen. “Sometimes it's better to create false certainty than no certainty at all, and that's what much of the research suggests,” says Vyse (WEBMD). Superstitious beliefs have also been linked to people suffering from OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). These people are often forced to perform certain rituals over and over again, often interfering with their daily lives. Although some of the symptoms of OCD can mimic superstitious behavior (and the two are not mutually exclusive), most evidence indicates that there is no connection between the two. Superstitious beliefs and practices have also been linked to mental, emotional, and spiritual health, since something one believes generally falls into these areas of health. Phobic (fear) superstitions can also interfere with our daily lives and cause a lot of anxiety, says Vyse (WEBMD). For example, people who are afraid of Friday the 13th may change their..