Ep 6. Superstitions

In Brain Games season 4 episode 6, Superstitions, viewers are taken on a journey through the world of superstitions. The episode aims to explore why people hold on to beliefs that have no rational basis and how those beliefs affect human behavior.

The episode begins with a simple question: why do people avoid walking under ladders? Host, Jason Silva, explains that the fear of walking under ladders is just one of many superstitions people hold onto even though they know it has no real-world consequences. But why do people still believe in superstitions?

To answer this question, the show looks at the psychology behind superstitions. The human mind is wired to seek out patterns, even where none exist. A superstition is born when we see a pattern where there is none and assign meaning to it. Once the pattern is established, we create a ritual to try and replicate the desired outcome. The show uses various experiments to demonstrate how people create these rituals and how they can actually increase a person's confidence in their own abilities.

The show then moves on to explore the impact of superstitions on our daily lives. We all have little rituals we perform before important events, like wearing lucky socks or carrying a talisman. The show reveals that these habits can either increase a person's confidence or create unnecessary anxiety. The hosts discuss how one person's superstition can have a negative impact on others and how it can even extend to entire cultures.

The episode highlights some of the more interesting superstitions from around the world, including knock on wood, breaking mirrors and throwing salt over your shoulder. The show explains the origins of these superstitions and how they have evolved over time.

The team of experts on the show then demonstrate how perceptions of luck can affect our decision-making processes. They use several tests to show how our beliefs in good or bad luck can impact our actions. For example, they show how the belief in good luck can lead to riskier choices, while fear of bad luck can lead to more conservative decision-making.

The show ends on a more serious note, exploring the danger of superstitions when they become obsessive or lead to self-harm. The show uses some real-life examples of people who have been injured or lost their lives as a result of blindly following superstitions.

Overall, Brain Games season 4 episode 6, Superstitions, is an entertaining and informative look at the origins, psychology, and impact of superstitions. The episode provides an interesting commentary on human behavior and how our minds work, while also entertaining us with some fascinating stories and experiments. The show is a must-watch for anyone interested in understanding the mysteries of the human mind.