Latest / The Psychology of Superstition
Omens — Reading Signs in the World Around Us
This episode explores the enduring belief in omens—signs interpreted as messages about the future. From Roman augury to Chinese eclipse traditions, history shows that humans have long sought meaning in natural events. Psychology explains omens through pattern recognition and apophenia, as well as our need for control in uncertain situations. Cultural differences reveal how the same sign can mean good or bad depending on the society, while confirmation bias and self-fulfilling prophecy reinforce belief. Even today, people look for angel numbers, coincidences, or “signs from the universe,”…
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