You better knock on wood!

          Are there times where you rapidly knock on wood after you say some negative future bringing? Believe it or not some people do it even if they don't believe in superstition, and go ahead and knock on wood anyways. Author Angela Chens article, When Superstition Works gives a thorough and concise point on some of the good outcomes that superstition can have on someone. By taking some time to analyze two different articles I was able to see how different opinions can be over this topic. Its a whole idea that we have set upon the human race that, even though in reality knocking on wood will not stop it from snowing or maybe from your car not to breaking down. Belief is a strong power, and at times can even produce a good outcome, but when it doesn't, does that strike a question upon the truth of superstitions? Author Jane L Rison and A.David Naussbaum of the article, Sense and Superstition question why people knock on wood even if they don't believe in it. This article serves as an explanation as to why superstition is something that people refer to on so many occasions. That begs a question, Is superstition worth believing? In a way does this help produce a better outcome or maybe a win in a game? This article helps to look at the other side of the magical thinking, and takes a look at the psychology in it. 

            To contrast the Psychological view, Angela Chen from the Wall Street Journal writes about some of the positive impacts that superstition can have on someone's outcome. Chen uses examples as to why superstition can almost be good! "Still, for people under pressure to compete or perform, superstitious behavior can create a placebo effect that can improve the outcome." In a way this article produced a much more informational aspect as to the reasons behind superstition and the good that can come from it. A good example that she used was of Mary Pfister a college student whom wore her Seahawks (school team) shirt to every hockey game, since the first game she has worn it as almost a good luck charm. It shows how sometimes simple things like a pair of old socks or a team shirt can help you do even better. I find myself sometimes using the same pencil from a previous successful test on a new one with the belief that maybe it was the pencil that helped. You can look at this issue in two ways, it can help you or maybe its just a psychological scheme that your mind is playing on you. Either way, you can see that superstition can often aid us, before a test, a game, or even an interview there is a positive side to this so called 'superstition'.

Works Cited:
Chen, Angela. "When Superstition Works." Wall Street Journal. N.p., 25 Feb. 2013. Web. 09 Feb. 2015.

Risen, Jane L., and A. David Nussbaum. "Sense and Superstition." The New York Times. The New York Times, 05 Oct. 2013. Web. 09 Feb. 2015.

Links:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/opinion/sunday/sense-and-superstition.html
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303559504579197920998454920