Do superstitions improve performance?

Do lucky socks, crossed fingers, and pre-exam rituals actually help us perform better – or are we all just, quite simply, deluded?

This meet-up’s reading is an ever so slightly odd paper by Damisch et al. (2010), which found that activating a “superstitious belief” (like bringing a lucky charm) significantly improved people’s performance on tasks requiring memory, motor skills, and confidence. So… is this science endorsing irrationality?

Bring your favourite superstition (or your most rationalist hot take), and be prepared to debate whether irrational thinking has a place in modern science and psychology over cake and coffee (or your choice of beverage!)

Everyone is welcome to come along for what I am sure will be a rigorous discussion - whether they have read the paper or not! (That being said, a debate is easier to win with some facts!!)

Look forward to meeting people at this first event!

Damisch, L., Stoberock, B., & Mussweiler, T. (2010).
“Keep Your Fingers Crossed! How Superstition Improves Performance”
Psychological Science, 21(7), 1014–1020.
🔗 Official paper (SAGE)

Any difficulties accessing the paper, just let me know :)