3. It Can Make You Perform Better at a Given Task
Studies have shown that if you believe you can do something—even if that belief stems from a slightly irrational magical source of power—then you will be more like to achieve your goal. In an article for Scientific American, it is explained that researchers found that “magical thinking can actually increase participants’ confidence in their own capabilities. That is, believing in lucky charms would increase participants’ “self-efficacy,” and it is this feeling of “I can do this,” not any magical properties of the object itself, that predict success.” So while it might seem silly to keep a good luck charm or stick to a superstitious pre-game ritual, that little bit of magical thinking just might work in your favor.
