About this episode
Are you like Kurt, stuck wearing a pair of 'lucky socks' every time your team plays, no matter what the outcome of the game turns out to be? In this month's bonus, we explore why we hold onto superstitions, like lucky socks, even when we know they don't work. From BF Skinner's pigeons to social identity theory, we unpack the behavioral science behind our game-day rituals, however irrational, and discuss the sense of agency, control, and belonging that they create.
Topics[0:00] Intro: Kurt's Lucky Socks
[3:38] The Placebo Effect
[7:27] Mistaking Correlation for Causation
[11:58] Social Identity and Group Belonging
[16:34] The Psychological Benefits of Superstitions
LinksJoin the Behavioral Grooves community
Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube
Get every episode summarized
Each time Behavioral Grooves Podcast publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Behavioral Grooves Podcast
Why Don’t I Feel Loved? | Sonja Lyubomirsky
Behavioral Grooves Podcast
The Silent Killer in Your Workplace | Tom Rieger
Behavioral Grooves Podcast
How to Influence Others (Ethically) | Brian Ahearn
Behavioral Grooves Podcast
Throwback Thursday: The Life-Changing Importance of Questions | Elizabeth Weinga...
Behavioral Grooves Podcast