6.13 Understanding Superstitions and Operant Conditioning

The topic of discussion is superstitions and their development through operant conditioning.
Operant conditioning is a learning principle where behaviors are reinforced through rewards.

Superstition refers to beliefs or practices that stem from the perception of a causal relationship between certain behaviors and specific outcomes, even when such a relationship does not exist.

B.F. Skinner, a pioneering psychologist, demonstrated operant conditioning through his experiments with pigeons.
He utilized operant chambers (Skinner boxes) to analyze behavior responses to reinforcement.

Skinner placed pigeons on a random reinforcement schedule, where food was delivered at unpredictable intervals.
Observations showed that:
- Pigeons would attempt to link their actions with the receipt of food.
- If a pigeon stood on one leg when food was delivered, it would repeat that action in subsequent trials more often.

Human brains are inherently skilled at detecting patterns, leading individuals to find connections where none exist.
For example, children's behaviors show similar patterns of response to random reinforcement (e.g., toys that dispense treats at random times).
Children might exhibit behaviors consistently linked to rewards, such as scratching their nose when a toy dispenses candy.

Upon receiving reinforcement, individuals tend to ask themselves:
- How did this reinforcement occur?
- Why did it happen?
- How can they recreate such stimuli?
Often, reinforcements occur without any genuine connection to the behavior exhibited, reinforcing arbitrary rituals or beliefs.

In sports, superstitions manifest vividly, often leading to intricate rituals:
- Example: Nomar Garciaparra, a former baseball player, had a specific ritual for putting on batting gloves, believing it influenced his performance.
- Tennis players may believe they need to bounce the ball a certain number of times before serving.
- Some athletes wear 'lucky' clothing (e.g., socks, underwear) during winning streaks, avoiding washing them.

Many superstitions persist due to confirmation bias, the tendency to seek information that supports existing beliefs.
- Example: An individual may remember one instance where a 'lucky' item coincided with a success while overlooking numerous failures associated with that same item.

The speaker shares a personal anecdote regarding a playoff game where a friend's comment about the game's outcome was perceived as jinxing a sports team (the Jets).
- Despite recognizing the irrationality, the strong emotional response exhibited serves as an example of common superstitious behavior.
- Key takeaway: Emotional responses to superstitions are often visceral and can cloud rational judgment.

Interestingly, some superstitions can have beneficial effects, particularly in performance enhancement by reducing anxiety:
- Example: A study involving a golf putting exercise showed that participants who believed they used a 'special lucky ball' performed better than those who believed they were using a standard ball, despite both groups using identical balls.
- Participants with the 'lucky ball' performed better due to their belief in its efficacy, suggesting the role of psychological factors in sports performance.

While superstitions often stem from faulty reasoning, they can create emotional security and potentially enhance performance through reduced anxiety.
In conclusion, despite their irrational basis, superstitions reflect human behavior rooted in our cognitive processes and emotional responses.