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Cited by 45Paranormal Experiences and BeliefsEducation, Achievement, and GiftednessDecision-Making and Behavioral Economics

Reliance on Luck: Identifying Which Achievement Goals Elicit Superstitious Behavior

Hamerman, Eric J., Morewedge, Carey K.·2015·Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
DOI 10.1177/0146167214565055
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Abstract

People often resort to superstitious behavior to facilitate goal achievement. We examined whether the specific type of achievement goal pursued influences the propensity to engage in superstitious behavior. Across six studies, we found that performance goals were more likely than learning goals to elicit superstitious behavior. Participants were more likely to engage in superstitious behavior at high than at low levels of chronic performance orientation, but superstitious behavior was not influenced by chronic learning orientation (Studies 1 and 2). Similarly, participants exhibited stronger preferences for lucky items when primed to pursue performance goals rather than learning goals (Studies 3 and 4). As uncertainty of goal achievement increased, superstitious behavior increased when participants pursued performance goals but not learning goals (Study 5). Finally, assignment to use a lucky (vs. unlucky) item resulted in greater confidence of achieving performance goals but not learning goals (Study 6).

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  • Hamerman and Morewedge (2015) found that individuals who naturally have lower performance orientation or those primed to pursue performance goals exhibit more superstitious behavior, compared with those with higher performance orientation or primed to pursue learning goals.

    “Hamerman and Morewedge (2015) provide one of the most direct tests of this proposition; in a series of studies, they demonstrate that individuals who naturally have lower level of performance orientation or those primed to pursue performance goals exhibit more superstitious behavior, compared with those with higher performance orientation or primed to pursue learning goals.”

    From The Psychology of Rituals: An Integrative Review and Process-Based Framework (2018) · cites this paper as Hamerman and Morewedge, 2015

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Authors
Hamerman, E. J., & Morewedge, C. K.
Affiliations
  • Tulane University (US)
  • Boston University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2015-01-23
Volume
41
Issue
3
Pages
323-335
ISSN
  • 0146-1672 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-7433
DOI
10.1177/0146167214565055
OpenAlex
W2121160924
Cited by
45
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1
FWCI
7.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Education, Achievement, and Giftedness
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
Keywords
superstitious behavior, performance goals, learning objectives, achievement goals, performance orientation, learning orientation, confidence, goal pursuit
MeSH terms
Achievement, Adolescent, Adult, Female, Goals, Humans, Internal-External Control, Male, Superstitions, Self Efficacy, Young Adult

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