PSYC 334 - Magic, Superstition, and Belief

Institution:

Williams College

Subject:

Psychology

Description:

In the 2008 presidential campaign, Barack Obama played a ritual game of basketball that he hoped would ensure good results while his opponent, John McCain kept a lucky penny in his pocket throughout the election season. These are but two striking examples of the millions of people who regularly engage in ritualistic or superstitious behavior. But why? How did the mind evolve to support both logical reasoning and magical thinking? In this tutorial, we explore that question by examining how beliefs, emotions, and imagination have interlocked in the course of human development. We will discuss and debate how the capacity to imagine facilitates problem solving, why magical thinking continues in to adulthood, and how our beliefs in both natural and supernatural phenomena are related to the evolutionary forces that shaped the human mind.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Psychology 221 or 232 or permission of instructor

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Other

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.williams.edu

Phone Number:

(413) 597-3131

Regional Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Four-one-four plan

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