Why superstition never disappears: from Skinner's pigeon experiment to an evolutionary model
Superstition survives because our learning machinery produces it: chance coincidences become rituals, and false beliefs may cost less than missed causes.
Results for "evolution"
Illusory correlation: why two events happening close together make the brain think one causes the other
Illusory correlation is the brain seeing a link between two events when none exists, because rare and striking events grab attention and stick in memory.
Neptune in Astrology: Meaning and Influence on the Birth Chart
Neptune in astrology stands for illusion, dreams, intuition and spiritual longing, and shapes how you meet ambiguity and sacrifice.
The Sun in Astrology: Meaning and Influence on the Birth Chart
The Sun is the soul of the birth chart, standing for ego, consciousness and life purpose. Its sign, house and aspects show how you express yourself and grow.
Goddess Thien Y A Na and Po Nagar Tower: The Cham-Viet Faith Interweaving in Nha Trang
Explore the journey from the Cham goddess Po Inư Nagar to Thien Y A Na in Vietnamese belief, through the lens of the Po Nagar Tower festival in Nha Trang.
Who Wrote the I Ching: The Fu Xi and King Wen Tradition and What Excavated Manuscripts Show
Fu Xi, King Wen, the Duke of Zhou and Confucius are all credited with the I Ching, but excavated manuscripts point to a late Western Zhou compilation.
Sayangva Festival of the Chơ Ro People: Agricultural Beliefs and Community Vitality
The Sayangva Festival of the Chơ Ro people in Đồng Nai honors the rice spirit after harvest, giving thanks to nature and strengthening community bonds.
Ao Ba Ba: The Iconic Southern Vietnamese Garment
Discover the origins, history, and deep cultural significance of Ao Ba Ba, the traditional garment symbolizing Southern Vietnam.
Maturity Number 9 in Numerology: Meaning and Calculation
Discover the deep meaning of Maturity Number 9 in numerology, how to calculate it accurately from your birth name, and its influence on your life purpose.
Uranus in Astrology: Meaning and Influence on the Birth Chart
Explore the role of Uranus in astrology: symbol of innovation, rebellion, and awakening. Learn its meaning through signs, houses, and aspects.
Ao Tu Than (Four-Panel Dress): Origins and Features of Northern Vietnamese Traditional Costume
Explore the origins, four-panel construction, variations, and cultural significance of Ao Tu Than, the iconic traditional dress of Northern Vietnamese women.
Challenge Number 8 in numerology: meaning and lessons to overcome
Discover the meaning of Challenge Number 8 in numerology: obstacles related to money, power, control, and lessons to overcome for lasting balance and success.
Tiger and Snake Harm: Decoding the Six Harms Pair in the Chinese Zodiac
Tiger and Snake form a Six Harms pair in the Chinese zodiac, and their clash can bring conflict in marriage or business. Here are the traits behind it.
How to recognize a pseudoscientific advertisement: the criteria of philosophy of science, applied to 'energy', 'vibration', 'quantum'
No single test identifies pseudoscience. Philosophy of science uses a cluster of criteria, applied here to 'energy', 'vibration' and 'quantum'.
Why We Avoid the Belongings of the Dead and Seek New Year's Luck: Contagious Magic in the Modern Mind
Contagious magic rests on two laws: contact transfers properties, and similarity means shared essence. Rozin's 1986 experiments show they still shape us.
Where Does Burned Joss Paper Go: The Logic of Exchange with Spirits and Why Paper Offerings Grow with Income
Joss paper is a symbolic exchange between the living and ancestors or spirits, covering its origins, len dong rituals and Buddhist critiques.
What Science Says About Face Reading: From 19th-Century Criminal Physiognomy to Modern Research
How does science view face reading? From 19th-century criminal anthropology to modern psychology, plus the misconceptions to avoid.