Magical thinking is the belief that symbolic actions or thoughts can influence reality. This phenomenon is of interest to representatives of various fields - psychology, psychiatry, religion, and so on.
Definition Approaches
Magical thinking is a rather controversial topic, so researchers have still not developed a unified approach to the definition of the term. Here are some options:
According to Jacobson, this is a tendency to identify the words and the essence of the objects that they denote. In other words, it is a belief that the word has the same properties and energy as the object it defines.
According to Klyuchevsky, this is a way of reasoning and thinking, different from the logical one. This is a kind of artistic understanding that extends to higher categories.
According to Levy-Bruhl, this is a kind of primitive thinking, which is also called pralogic. Thus, this is an ancient way of recognizing cause and effect relationships that has survived to this day.
How is formed
Magical thinking is formed under the influence of three components.
- Cultural and psychological. A person acquires his magical beliefs in the process of family education (or copies from the behavior of parents), as well as under the influence of society. An important role in the formation of magical thinking is played by the influence of the media (especially the Internet) and works of art. Also, a person can adopt some beliefs from his idols and other authorities.
- Predisposition to magic. This component to some extent arises from the previous one. At a certain point (usually from childhood), a person may become interested in supernatural phenomena, mysterious knowledge, anomalous events. It can also be associated with the manifestation of certain abilities that the individual and others can be perceived as magical.
- Spontaneous experience. Even a person who is absolutely skeptical of everything supernatural can be prone to magical thinking. This is due to spontaneous personal experience - the manifestation of religious images, the emergence of mystical signs, participation in spiritual practices or magical rites. Also, the use of drugs or the use of psychotropic drugs can lead to similar consequences.
The laws of magical thinking
People believe in the strangest and most unusual things, even though they have no scientific evidence. Someone believes in it unconsciously, and someone consciously. There are 7 laws of magical thinking.
- All items have an essence. Even inanimate things radiate energy and in a certain way affect a person.
- Symbols are powerful. They predetermine human behavior.
- Actions have long-term consequences. This law explains a person’s faith in rituals.
- Human consciousness has no limits. That which is impossible physically becomes real through thoughts.
- The soul is immortal. She continues to live in one form or another, even after the death of a person.
- The whole world is alive. The universe is a living being.
- Nothing happens for no reason. Each event has a specific reason.
Basic settings
Magical thinking is based on three basic attitudes.
Universal interconnectedness and conditioning. A person believes that there are no accidents, and any unexpectedness is the result of someone else's plan. There is a belief in karma that excludes any random events. Otherwise, a person is completely helpless in front of the Universe and is deprived of a sense of security. Also, belief in a “made world" is characteristic of this belief.
The objectivity of your own experience. It is an unconditional trust in one's own sensations and perceptions. That is, if a person feels this way, then this cannot be untrue. Common sense is limited by the cumulative experience gained throughout life. Everything that a person did not live is far from the truth.
The direct impact of thoughts on the outside world. Positive thinking draws good events into life, and negative thinking draws bad ones. This attitude is directly related to the belief in the absence of accidents and the belief in the veracity of one's own experience.
Derived Installations
Three derivative ideas flow from the three basic attitudes of magical thinking.
The special significance of symbols and events. Since there are no accidents in the world, there is a force that determines what is happening, it also sends certain signs to a person. These are signs, dreams, and so on.
The interdependence of magical thinking and mythological text. An example is religion. The thoughts and actions of most people are determined by the postulates formulated by their faith. Also influenced by literary images, popular beliefs and the like.
Belief in secret knowledge. Himalayan sages, Egyptian priests, masons, psychologists, psychics - all of them and many others, according to most people, have secret knowledge about the structure of this world.
Eclecticism. Unlike representatives of past eras, modern people for the most part do not have a holistic worldview. In their minds, Christianity gets along with shamanistic practices, traditional medicine is combined with homeopathy, and so on. That is, a modern person chooses from different systems the knowledge and practices that he likes, which he considers working.
Belief in a wonderful savior. This is not only about mystical characters (deities, sorcerers, magicians, and so on). A person considers those who can solve his problems as such (doctors, psychologists, lawyers, housing and communal services employees, and so on).
- The presence of communication between similar subjects. For example, people believe in a strong magical bond between twins. And, for example, the mandrake root was endowed with magical properties due to its similarity to the human body.
- The relationship between the whole and the part. A vivid example can be considered ancient beliefs. It was believed that by eating the heart of an animal, a person gains its strength. Another example is Voodoo dolls. Through the nail or hair of a person, you can have an effect on him.
Main types
It is worth noting some of the most common types of magical thinking.
The inspiration of inanimate objects. Despite the fact that this property is usually inherent in children, many carry it into adulthood. So, people can talk with objects, believe that they have their own life, hidden from the eyes of a person.
Belief in magic amulets, talismans and potions. It would seem that this has long been a thing of the past, but if you look at the life of a modern person, it becomes clear that this is not so. A man surrounds himself with a mass of charms - religious objects, popular talismans, as well as personal things endowed with a special meaning. Speaking of potions, you can give an example of traditional medicine.
Prediction of future events. We are talking about any kind of fortune-telling, about trying to open the curtain of the future. This also includes belief in the ability to decipher dreams. It can be talked of as independently conducted rituals, as well as an appeal to healers, fortune tellers, psychics, and so on.
Belief in otherworldly forces. This is one of the oldest forms of magical thinking. Belief in the existence of higher beings creates the illusion of security in a person and to some extent relieves him of responsibility for what is happening.
Three psychological aspects
In psychology, magical thinking is considered in terms of three aspects.
Everything comes from childhood. A person with a similar kind of thinking looks at the world from a children's point of view. This gives rise to developed imagination and creative abilities, but limits the ability to critical thinking.
Magic is criticized and persecuted. Manifestations of fantasy are valuable and acceptable except in creativity. In other areas of activity, everything related to magic and mysticism is not taken seriously and criticized. Moreover, speaking out loud about such things, you run the risk of being misunderstood and ridiculed.
Magic lives in closed societies. People adhere to their traditions and do not accept any changes in their lifestyle. Change inspires fear in people.
Professional signs and superstitions
Surprisingly, even in the most serious and precise fields of activity, magical thinking takes place. It is about professional signs and superstitions. Here are the most interesting examples.
- Representatives of occupations associated with danger do not use the word "last". They prefer to say extreme. This is the case with rescuers, astronauts, pilots, sappers, racers and so on. But this is not strange, because many people even in everyday life prefer not to use the word "last" because of negative associations with it.
- For astronauts, Monday is considered a “non-starting” day. Designer Sergei Korolev was categorically against flying on the first day of the week. Since there was no logical explanation for this superstition, Monday flights were allowed. But after 11 accidents occurred on that day of the week, an official ban was introduced.
- There are no launches on October 24 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. This is due to accidents that occurred on this day in 1960 and 1963. Despite the fact that in both cases the cause of the catastrophe was a violation of safety regulations, this date was overgrown with superstitions.
- Another cosmic superstition operates at the Plesetsk cosmodrome. To launch the launch vehicle was successful, it is necessary to write "Tanya" on it.
- Interestingly, many hospital doctors are sure that you should not make love on the eve of duty. Otherwise, there will be many difficult patients.
- Another medical superstition is not to wish for a successful or calm change. Otherwise, the night will be tense.
- Before the performance, musicians always get up from their right legs and do not cover the bed. Even conductor of symphony orchestras adhere to this rule.
- Despite the fact that the profession of a realtor is relatively young, its representatives also have magical thinking. So, they never take off their shoes and do not sit in the clients ’apartment. Otherwise, the transaction will not take place.
Prejudice or scientifically proven truth?
Magical thinking is widespread almost everywhere, so it could not but arouse the interest of scientists. So, the employees of the University of Cologne decided to check its influence on the real results of human activity.
Participants in the experiment were golfers. Each of them had to make ten hits from the same place. At the same time, by throwing balls, the experimenters told the subjects in advance that they were successful (or vice versa). The results of the experiment surprised scientists. Hitting the “lucky” balls, the subjects hit the target more often.
Of course, this is not about magic. Nonetheless, the experiment showed that prejudice does influence a person, demonstrating the importance of magical thinking in psychology. The realization that the ball is “lucky” gives the player confidence in himself, in the existence of “supreme support”. A person believes in a positive result.
Magical way of thinking as a stage of development
During development, magical thinking is inherent in every person. It is rooted in childhood. Little children have no idea how the world works, what its laws are, why certain processes occur. They all have their own explanation. Young children sincerely believe that their thoughts can affect the world around them. This property is most pronounced in the period from 2 to 7 years. Dreams, fantasies and reality mix together.
An example is the situation when a child hides with his head under a blanket. He believes that in this way it becomes invulnerable to external problems, the severity of parents, fictional monsters, and so on. Surprisingly, many people carry such signs and oddities through their whole lives, even as adults.
Good or bad?
Does magical thinking bring benefit or harm to man? Psychologists, witches, esotericists and other people interested in this issue argue that it does not pose a threat, and sometimes can be useful. Belief in support of higher powers relieves a person of fears, helps him cope with obstacles, eliminates a feeling of helplessness, gives faith in one’s abilities and talents. You can perceive this phenomenon as a placebo effect.
However, in some cases magical thinking is bad. When a person blurred the line between reality and fiction, it can lead to behavior disorders. For example, if a person receives some kind of negative sign, he gives himself a negative attitude that can go through his whole life. In addition, it can adversely affect health.
Magical thinking in psychiatry
This issue is being studied objectively by physicians. Magical thinking in psychiatry is associated with neurotic disorders. As a rule, patients panicky avoid thoughts that, in their opinion, can lead to adverse consequences (illness, loss, and so on).
Psychiatrists believe that this phenomenon can be considered normal, only talking about children under 5 years old or representatives of subcultures. In other cases, experts consider it appropriate to talk about schizophrenic disorders (in accordance with the international classification of diseases and the American diagnostic manual for mental disorders).
How to get rid
If a person loses the line between fiction and reality, moving to a painful state, the question is how to get rid of magical thinking. Here are the key tips for getting back to reality.
- Contact a specialist. A good psychologist or psychiatrist will help you understand yourself and show you the right path.
- Look at things realistically. You should not look for what is happening undertones and secret meanings.
- Learn to take responsibility. Do not attribute your failures and troubles to higher powers. Look for reasons in yourself and your actions.