Falling Back on Our Gods A Study of Supersition and Anxiety

Jill Gromer

Date of Award

2004

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Ryan, Kimberly

Keywords

Superstition, Anxiety, Religion

Area of Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

Research indicates increases in both superstitious behavior and religiosity during situations that are characterized by unpredictability or stress. Additionally, it has been shown that unpredictability can precede anxiety. These findings suggest that religiosity and superstitiousness may have a relationship with anxiety. Indeed, some research finds that religiosity is negatively correlated with anxiety. However, research on superstition and anxiety is scant. The goal of the present study was to investigate the relation between superstitious behavior and anxiety. Superstitious behavior was expected to relate negatively to anxiousness. Survey packets containing the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and a newly developed scale of superstitious behavior were administered to 118 undergraduates. Socially accepted and widely practiced superstitious behaviors were found to correlate negatively with anxiety. However, individualized superstitious behaviors that involve the assignment of luck to objects and symbols were found to correlate positively with anxiety. The results of this study suggest that the relations between anxiety and superstitiousness are complex and dependent on the type of superstition being measured.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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