Magical Thinking

Magic thinking is the idea that abstract and non-abstract human actions can influence specific events and outcomes. Psychologists link magical thinking to false beliefs that associate thoughts, words, moods, emotions, and general behavior with specific events and outcomes (Subbotsky, 2010). Whereas science does not back magical thinking, several aspects of magical thinking have been normalized through social learning as facts that apply to specific circumstances.

I am no exception to magical thinking, and I practice it numerous times, which in most cases, results in the desired outcomes. For instance, when blowing out candles during my birthday events, I make a wish that, in most cases, happens in due season. In the event that the wish I make when blowing out birthday candles does not happen, I always find natural reasons beyond my control to excuse unexpected occurrences. I also tend to cross my fingers whenever I take a risk where the probability of winning equals the pliability of losing. I believe I will be lucky and win the situation by crossing my fingers. This has mostly worked for me. Buy this excellently written paper or order a fresh one from ace-myhomework.com

I relate magical thinking as an aspect of culture learned from socialization and normalized into reality. This is because magical thinking is relative to culture, implying that aspects of magical thinking may have different implications in different cultures (). For example, while I have been socialized that crossing fingers implies luck, other cultures may perceive crossing fingers as a vulgar gesture. How magical thinking works in some cases is a mystery to me. Perhaps, it is a coincidence or just a stroke of luck.

References

D'Arms, J., & Jacobson, D. (2023). Rational sentimentalism. Oxford University Press.

Subbotsky, E. (2010). Magic and the mind: Mechanisms, functions, and magical thinking and behavior development. Oxford University Press.