Magical thinking is the belief that one’s behaviors, thoughts, or actions can directly impact the course of circumstances. Commonly associated with magical thinking are superstitious beliefs, such as knocking on wood to prevent bad luck or crossing your fingers for good luck. Although magical thinking can sometimes provide a sense of security, it can also lead to heightened distress and anxiety.
What Is Magical Thinking?
While some individuals view life circumstances as coincidences, people who engage in magical thinking believe that their thoughts, feelings, and/or actions impact their life, despite there being no evidence of a plausible connection. Magical thinking is very common in childhood and can continue into adulthood. While magical thinking can be harmless, it can also be a symptom of a mental health condition.
Examples of Magical Thinking
Most individuals experience instances of magical thinking. Growing up, individuals are often taught specific examples of magical thinking, whether that be through family members, friends, or the media. Some people hold on to these rituals throughout their lives and continue to engage with them on a regular basis.
Common types of magical thinking include:
Rituals & Traditions
Rituals and traditions are a form of magical thinking that often focuses on good luck and fortune. These rituals and traditions are often passed down from generation to generation and are widely spread throughout specific cultures. Engaging in these rituals and traditions often provides individuals with a sense of security and control over life experiences.
Examples of magical thinking from rituals and traditions include:
- Knocking on wood
- Making a wish before blowing out birthday candles
- Having a ‘lucky’ object, such as an item of clothing
- Crossing your fingers for good luck
- Believing in lucky numbers
Old Wives’ Tales & Superstitions
Old Wives’ tales and superstitions are another form of magical thinking that believes certain circumstances are associated with bad luck and misfortune. These tales and superstitions are often well-known and deep-rooted in history. Many people will avoid superstitious encounters to the best of their ability in order to prevent bad luck and misfortune.
Examples of magical thinking from old wives’ tales and superstitions include:
- Breaking a mirror leads to 7 years of bad luck
- Refusing to shave while a sports team is on a winning streak
- Crossing paths with a black cat brings misfortune
- Walking under a ladder results in bad luck
- Spilling salt leads to bad luck and misfortune
Associations
Another type of magical thinking, known as associations, believes that specific outcomes are associated with a particular event. A common example of this lies within the concepts of karma or fate. Although associations are often coincidental, many people believe that their actions are the cause of certain outcomes, even if they do not logically correlate.
Examples of magical thinking from associations include:
- Promising to take your car to the shop so it’ll start
- Yelling at your sister and then losing your voice days later
- Thinking about someone and then running into them the next day
- Donating money to a charity and then getting a pay raise at work
- Canceling plans with a friend in order to go to another event, only for that event to be canceled
What Causes Magical Thinking?
There are many causes for magical thinking, ranging from natural causes to mental health concerns. Magical thinking is commonly represented in our world, and most people have engaged with magical thinking at some point in their lives. Starting at a young age, individuals often learn well-known rituals and superstitions within their culture, which continue throughout generations.
Common causes of magical thinking include:
Natural Childhood Development
Magical thinking is a natural part of childhood development, starting when a child is between the ages of 2 to 5 years old.1 Children start to become aware of the supernatural, such as ghosts and spirits. Through magical thinking, children express creativity and playfulness, both integral components in healthy development. As development continues, magical thinking will often lessen around the age of ten years old.1
Religious & Cultural Beliefs
Many people engage in rituals or traditions within their religious or cultural backgrounds. Research suggests that there can be an overlap between religious thinking and magical thinking.2 Within religious/cultural traditions, individuals feel highly connected to their practices and beliefs, which often provides a sense of comfort and peace.
Engaging in rituals or traditions related to one’s religious or cultural background is common practice and seen across various religions and cultures. For example, individuals in the U.S. have likely heard of knocking on wood to prevent bad luck or avoiding the number ‘666’. On the other hand, in China, the number ‘4’ is known to be a number that brings bad luck and misfortune.3
Mental Health Concerns
Certain mental health disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, and schizophrenia, involve thought disturbances and cognitive distortions, such as magical thinking. Individuals struggling with magical thinking as a symptom of a mental health disorder may become extremely distressed by magical thinking, resulting in day-to-day impairments in functioning.
Benefits of Magical Thinking
Although most people are aware their magical thinking patterns are illogical, there are sometimes benefits to magical thinking that reinforce one to keep engaging with it. Magical thinking can help people feel comforted and secure in circumstances that are otherwise out of their control.
Benefits of magical thinking include:
Comfort
Engaging in rituals may provide one a sense of security and comfort, as we often do not have control over certain life circumstances. Many times, individuals are trying to find peace in uncertain circumstances. Because of this, individuals may continue to engage in magical thinking due to the feeling of comfort it provides.
Optimism
Magical thinking can also promote an optimistic view of life. Studies have shown that optimism is directly related to lower levels of stress and anxiety.4 Similar to positive psychology approaches, optimism focuses on the positives in life rather than the negatives. Engaging with magical thinking that promotes good luck and fortune may increase optimism in one’s life.
Control
Magical thinking often provides individuals with a sense of control over uncontrollable circumstances in life. Engaging in rituals may help someone feel as if they are taking action to prevent an outcome in their life. This illusion of control can help one better manage their stress and tolerate feelings of uncertainty.
Confidence
Magical thinking is also associated with an increased sense of self-esteem and confidence. For example, an individual may feel more confident performing in an art show if multiple people tell them to “break a leg.” Research even suggests that engaging in superstitions may actually improve one’s performance, as it increases one’s confidence.5
Drawbacks to Magical Thinking
While instances of magical thinking are often harmless or even beneficial, there are also times in which magical thinking can result in distressing emotions, such as fear and anxiety. In some cases, magical thinking can become extremely debilitating. For example, when someone has OCD, they can get stuck in compulsive rituals in an attempt to combat anxiety related to magical thinking.
Magical Thinking & Mental Health Conditions
While some people find magical thinking reassuring, individuals struggling with a mental health condition often find magical thinking to be highly distressing or disturbing. If engaging with magical thinking causes significant distress and impacts your day-to-day life, this may be indicative of a mental health concern.
Mental health conditions associated with magical thinking include:
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Magical thinking is a common symptom of OCD, a mental health disorder that is characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Individuals with magical thinking OCD may experience repetitive, intrusive magical thoughts that may result in compulsions. For example, an individual may have the thought to “turn the doorknob three times to the right, or else something bad will happen.” This magical thought drives compulsive behavior.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and patterns of disorganized thinking. Individuals with schizophrenia often hold beliefs that are not based on reality. Magical thinking is a common symptom of schizophrenia – specifically, auditory hallucinations are found to be linked to magical thinking.6 For example, individuals with schizophrenia may spin in a circle three times before they cross a street because their spirits told them that will keep them safe.
Anxiety
Magical thinking can appear in individuals struggling with anxiety. Magical thinking is known to be a common cognitive distortion, as these thoughts are not factually accurate. An individual struggling with anxiety may think that their thoughts hold significant power and can alter the course of reality. For example, an individual who is anxious about a job interview may believe if they stop worrying about it, it will go poorly.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) characterizes magical thinking as a possible symptom of schizotypal personality disorder. Individuals with schizotypal personality disorder may relate two uncorrelated circumstances together, placing meaning in coincidences. For example, an individual with schizotypal personality disorder may believe they hold telepathic powers or can change fate by wearing a certain item of clothing.
Therapy Options for Magical Thinking
Magical thinking is a common mental health symptom that can be treated with the help of a mental health professional. Individuals may benefit from therapy, medication, or a combination of the two. If you or a loved one is struggling with magical thinking, there are evidence-based modalities of psychotherapy that can be helpful in challenging and managing symptoms.
Therapy options for magical thinking include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT helps individuals replace unhelpful thinking patterns with more helpful, rational thoughts. CBT techniques can help individuals learn how to challenge and rationalize their magical thinking patterns.
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): ERP involves gradually exposing one to anxiety-provoking stimuli. ERP is widely known to be helpful in treating OCD. ERP assists individuals in facing their fears and disengaging from compulsions related to magical thinking.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): ACT focuses on psychological flexibility. ACT helps individuals cope with and accept difficult emotions while also connecting to one’s values. Through ACT, individuals learn how to disengage from magical thinking patterns while reconnecting with their core values.
To find a therapist who specializes in magical thinking, you can utilize online therapy options to find a therapist or check out an online therapy directory.
In My Experience
As a licensed psychotherapist who works with individuals struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), I have witnessed how distressing and debilitating magical thinking can be. When we take our magical thoughts too literally, we risk becoming caught up in fear, impacting our overall quality of life and health. The good news is that symptoms related to magical thinking can be managed and coped with through multiple avenues of psychotherapy.
As we challenge and confront our magical thinking patterns, we learn how to tolerate uncertainty and accept the unknown. This, in turn, allows us to find peace in the present despite living in a sometimes unpredictable world. Working with a mental health professional can help you learn how to implement healthy coping skills and face your magical thinking fears.
What Is Magical Thinking Infographics
