Do you believe in magic? (of course you do, and you’re healthier for it)

By and large, magic takes a bad rap.  Scientists and intellectuals, not to mention the rest of us, tend to believe that magical thinking – often known as superstition – is a bit of nonsense.  But Matthew Hutson, in his new book “The Seven Laws of Magical Thinking: How Irrational Beliefs Keep Us Happy, Healthy and Sane,” makes a compelling case that magic is a substantial ally which helps us navigate life.  

Hutson’s thesis is straightforward: magic offers psychological benefits that logic and science cannot, namely “a sense of control and a sense of meaning.” At times, many would argue, superstition makes us feel better and perform better (quick example: say you believe in the power of a lucky charm – doing so creates an illusion of control which boosts your self-confidence and leads to an actual improvement in performance).   

Do you believe in magic?

If you knock on wood (I do), carry a lucky charm (I don’t), believe that “luck is in your hands” (sometimes), or sense that rooting for the U.S. to win their Olympic opener will help them do so (I did), then you believe in magic. Which brings us to that well-warn phrase: “Everything happens for a reason.”  This notion has a formal name – teleological reasoning – and it assumes that intentions and goals lie behind even clearly purposeless entities such as hurricanes. Hutson’s hypothesis? “When lacking a visible author, we end up crediting an invisible one – God, karma, destiny . . . ”  Magical beliefs, according to Hutson, are “basic habits of mind” and they “add structure and meaning to a chaotic and absurd universe.”

What does the research say? Some examples:    

·         Lucky golf ball – in one study, subjects handed a “lucky” ball drained 35% more golf putts than those with a “regular” ball (this study was conducted by psychologist Lysann Damisch, University of Cologne);

·         Lucky charm – in another study, “subjects performed better on memory and word games when armed with a lucky charm,” according to Hutson;

·         Reciting psalms – a study of Israel women found that those who recited psalms during the violence benefited from reduced anxiety (this study was conducted by Richard Sosis, University of Connecticut);

·         Turning points in your life – in this study, subjects were asked to reflect on a turning point in their lives, and, according to Hutson, “the more that they felt that the turning point was fated, the more that they believed ‘it made me who I am today’ and ‘it gave meaning to my life.’” Explained Hutson: “. . . belief in destiny helps render your life a coherent narrative, which infuses your goals with a greater sense of purpose. This works even when those turning points are harmful . . . ”

Huston’s conclusion: Belief in magic – as we all do – does not make us foolish. Instead, it makes us human.