Sports and Psychology Uncovering Superstitions in Sports

Sports and Psychology Uncovering Superstitions in Sports

Sports have evolved from a pastime to a way of life for millions of people around the globe. Fans invest hours upon hours to dedicate themselves to the sport or sports they love so much. Athletes have dedicated more time to their respective sports as well, now that the level of competition across the board is greater than ever before. This has driven fans and athletes to find a little extra good luck where they can, even in the most ridiculous places. These are where superstitions come in.

Superstitious beliefs are not and were never uncommon. Most people believe that seeing a black cat, breaking a mirror, opening an umbrella indoors or picking up a penny tails-up will bring them bad luck. It isn’t much different among sports fans, where some people believe wearing a certain jersey will bring their team the luck that’s needed to win. 

Why do fans and athletes believe in superstitions? This study below identifies what helps lead to superstitions, as well as what reinforces them. Those concepts will then be applied to the world of sports using both athletes and fans as examples to help explain what could be going on when they take part in superstitious activities.