Cited by 251Paranormal Experiences and BeliefsSport Psychology and PerformanceDecision-Making and Behavioral Economics

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 43 of the 44 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Keep Your Fingers Crossed!: How Superstition Improves Performance

Damisch, Lysann, Stoberock, Barbara, Mussweiler, Thomas·2010·Psychological Science

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

Superstitions are typically seen as inconsequential creations of irrational minds. Nevertheless, many people rely on superstitious thoughts and practices in their daily routines in order to gain good luck. To date, little is known about the consequences and potential benefits of such superstitions. The present research closes this gap by demonstrating performance benefits of superstitions and identifying their underlying psychological mechanisms. Specifically, Experiments 1 through 4 show that activating good-luck-related superstitions via a common saying or action (e.g., “break a leg,” keeping one’s fingers crossed) or a lucky charm improves subsequent performance in golfing, motor dexterity, memory, and anagram games. Furthermore, Experiments 3 and 4 demonstrate that these performance benefits are produced by changes in perceived self-efficacy. Activating a superstition boosts participants’ confidence in mastering upcoming tasks, which in turn improves performance. Finally, Experiment 4 shows that increased task persistence constitutes one means by which self-efficacy, enhanced by superstition, improves performance.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1177/0956797610372631

Cites

43 of 43 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

This paper’s full text isn’t openly available, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Self-efficacy: The exercise of control
Bandura, A., Freeman, W. H., & Lightsey, R. (1999) · Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy · doi:10.1891/0889-8391.13.2.158 · Cited by 46,835
Coefficient Alpha and the Internal Structure of Tests
Cronbach, L. J. (1951) · Psychometrika · doi:10.1007/bf02310555 · Cited by 43,931
Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change
Bandura, A. (1977) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.84.2.191 · Cited by 43,925
Untitled work
(1970) · Cited by 24,983
Self-efficacy: the exercise of control
(1997) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.35-1826 · Cited by 24,447
Untitled work
(1985) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 19,180
SPSS and SAS procedures for estimating indirect effects in simple mediation models
Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2004) · Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers · doi:10.3758/bf03206553 · Cited by 17,383
Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change
Bandura, A. (1978) · Advances in Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0146-6402(78)90002-4 · Cited by 10,586
Self-efficacy and work-related performance: A meta-analysis.
Stajković, A. D., & Luthans, F. (1998) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.124.2.240 · Cited by 4,130
Cultivating competence, self-efficacy, and intrinsic interest through proximal self-motivation.
Bandura, A., & Schunk, D. H. (1981) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.41.3.586 · Cited by 2,675 · cited 1×
“Cognitive factors such as the setting of more challenging goals (Zimmerman, 1995) and motivational factors such as higher persistence in a given task (Bandura & Schunk, 1981) contribute to this effect.”
Background

Show all 44 references

Research works printed but not linked: 6

Buhrmann H.G., 1981, Journal of Sport Behavior, 4, 163
Crusius J., 2010, To achieve or not to achieve? Assimilation and contrast in goal priming
Czech D.R., 2004, Journal of Sport Behavior, 27, 323
Lobmeyer D., 1986, Journal of Sport Behavior, 9, 70
Van Raalte J.L., 1991, Journal of Sport Behavior, 14, 41
Womack M., 1992, Sport and religion, 191

Sorted by citations

Items 101–200 of 250

Stakes of Knowing the Truth: A Motivational Perspective on the Popularity of a Controversial Scientific Theory
Morisseau, T., Origgi, G., & Branch, T. Y. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.708751 · Cited by 10
Numerological superstitions and market-wide herding: Evidence from China
Cui, Y., Gavriilidis, K., Gębka, B., & Kallinterakis, V. (2024) · International Review of Financial Analysis · doi:10.1016/j.irfa.2024.103199 · Cited by 9
The Indian superstition scale: creating a measure to assess Indian superstitions
An, S., Kapoor, N., Setia, A., Agiwal, S., & Ray, I. (2019) · Journal of Beliefs and Values · doi:10.1080/13617672.2019.1570452 · Cited by 11
Good fortune and its influence on B2B relationships: The case of the Mae Manee money solution campaign in Thailand
Chandrasapth, K., Yannopoulou, N., & Bian, X. (2022) · Industrial Marketing Management · doi:10.1016/j.indmarman.2021.12.005 · Cited by 9
Reproducibility of the brief religious coping inventory with African athletes’ sample using ordinal factor analytical approach
Agormedah, E. K., Quansah, F., Srem‐Sai, M., Ankomah, F., Hagan, J. E., & Schack, T. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1038202 · Cited by 10
Workplace beliefs about luck among taiwanese nurses
Lin, F.-Y., Lin, H., & Lee, T.-Y. (2014) · Journal of Nursing · doi:10.7243/2056-9157-1-1 · Cited by 10
Direct and Conceptual Replications of Burgmer & Englich (2012): Power May Have Little to No Effect on Motor Performance
Cusack, M., Vezenkova, N., Gottschalk, C., & Calin-Jageman, R. J. (2015) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140806 · Cited by 9
Choosing to stay away: Soccer fans’ purposeful avoidance of soccer events
Tamir, I. (2016) · Time & Society · doi:10.1177/0961463x16678256 · Cited by 9
Merely Possessing a Placebo Analgesic Reduced Pain Intensity: Preliminary Findings from a Randomized Design
Yeung, V. W. L., Geers, A. L., & Kam, S. M.-C. (2017) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-017-9601-0 · Cited by 8
Reframing and Reconceptualising Gambling tourism in Macau as a Chinese Pilgrimage
O’Regan, M., Choe, J., & Giovine, M. A. D. (2019) · Tourism Geographies · doi:10.1080/14616688.2018.1545248 · Cited by 9
Unfulfilled prophecies in sport performance: Active inference and the choking effect
Cappuccio, M. L., Kirchhoff, M. D., Alnajjar, F., & Tani, J. (2020) · Research Online (University of Wollongong) · Cited by 9
The inescapable effects of superstition and sacrifice on crimes against wildlife
de Farias, S. A. (2020) · Psychology & Marketing · doi:10.1002/mar.21411 · Cited by 9
Eristic reasoning: Adaptation to extreme uncertainty
Kurdoglu, R. S., Jekel, M., & Ateş, N. Y. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1004031 · Cited by 12
Development and Validation of Superstitious Beliefs Scale
Chukkali, S., & Dey, A. M. (2020) · Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities · doi:10.21659/rupkatha.v12n1.32 · Cited by 8
Exploring Attitudes and Affiliation Intentions toward Consumers Who Engage in Socially Shared Superstitious Behaviors: A Study of Students in the East and the West
Wang, D., Oppewal, H., & Thomas, D. (2014) · Psychology and Marketing · doi:10.1002/mar.20687 · Cited by 8
Fatalistic Tendency as a Predict of Disaster Preparedness Beliefs in University Students
DEMİRBİLEK, Ö., & Uzman, E. (2023) · Afet ve Risk Dergisi · doi:10.35341/afet.1249312 · Cited by 7
The structure of superstitious action – A further analysis of fresh evidence
Bridgstock, M., Marais, I., & Sturgess, K. (2011) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2010.12.033 · Cited by 7
Friday the 13th: The Empirics of Bad Luck
Fidrmuc, J., & Tena, J. D. D. (2015) · Kyklos · doi:10.1111/kykl.12085 · Cited by 9
Superstitions, cultures et sports, entre croyances et rationalisations. Le cas exploratoire d’une équipe féminine professionnelle de volleyball en France
Éluère, M., & Héas, S. (2017) · Les cahiers internationaux de psychologie sociale · doi:10.3917/cips.113.0025 · Cited by 7
I own therefore I can: Efficacy-based mere ownership effect
Yeung, V. W. L., Chan, C. P.-Y., Yau, E. K., Lok, W. K., Lun, V. M., & Chan, E. (2020) · Journal of Experimental Social Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2020.104005 · Cited by 7
Effects of belief in luck on the attractiveness of loyalty programmes
Ladeira, W. J., Santini, F. D. O., Sampaio, C. H., & Boeira, J. P. (2017) · Journal of Consumer Behaviour · doi:10.1002/cb.1695 · Cited by 8
Religiosity and resilience in entrepreneurship: uncovering the underlying mechanism through the lens of spiritual capital
Haddoud, M. Y., Al-Alawi, A. N., Al-Jubari, I., Amjed, S., & Elbaz, A. M. (2025) · International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research · doi:10.1108/ijebr-02-2024-0187 · Cited by 6
The creation of a superstitious belief regarding putters in a laboratory-based golfing task
Churchill, A., Taylor, J. A., & Parkes, R. (2014) · International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology · doi:10.1080/1612197x.2014.982675 · Cited by 6
The Influence of Implicit Self-Theories on Causal Inferences about Superstitions and Consequences on Subsequent Tasks
Kang, J., Park, J. K., & Kim, H. (2018) · Journal of the Association for Consumer Research · doi:10.1086/699207 · Cited by 6
Impact of luck perception on consumer's construal level: the mediating role of psychological security and the moderating role of power
Tao, J., Zhao, J., & Li, H. (2022) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-022-03978-z · Cited by 6
Development of a Naïve Theory of Superstition
Woolley, J. D., Baca, P. A., & Kelley, K. A. (2023) · Journal of Cognition and Development · doi:10.1080/15248372.2023.2256871 · Cited by 6
Barriers to Transforming Hostile Relations: Why Friendly Gestures Can Backfire
Menon, T., Sheldon, O. J., & Galinsky, A. D. (2014) · Negotiation and Conflict Management Research · doi:10.1111/ncmr.12023 · Cited by 6
Symptoms of colorectal cancer contributes to its localization and advancement
Nizioł, M., Kostrzewska, B., Kamińska, D., Domurat, M., Zińczuk, J., Misiura, M., Guzińska-Ustymowicz, K., & Pryczynicz, A. (2019) · Progress in Health Sciences · doi:10.5604/01.3001.0013.3704 · Cited by 6
Prior Pain Exposure and Mere Possession of a Placebo Analgesic Predict Placebo Analgesia: Findings From a Randomized, Double-Blinded, Controlled Trial
Yeung, V. W. L., & Geers, A. L. (2020) · Journal of Pain · doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2020.10.004 · Cited by 5
Toward a goal-based paradigm of contagion
Kim, T., Duhachek, A., Herd, K. B., & Kim, S. (2022) · European Journal of Marketing · doi:10.1108/ejm-03-2021-0148 · Cited by 6
Intrinsic Religiosity and Attitude toward Finales as Precursors of Superstitious Beliefs: A Cross-Cultural Investigation
Sierra, J. J., Hyman, M. R., Lee, B., & Suh, T. (2017) · Asian Journal of Business Research · doi:10.14707/ajbr.170031 · Cited by 5
PSYCHO-SOCIAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO SUPERSTITIOUS BEHAVIOR: LITERATURE REVIEW
Shrivastav, M., & Kotnala, A. (2015) · International Journal of Research -GRANTHAALAYAH · doi:10.29121/granthaalayah.v3.i5.2015.3014 · Cited by 5
Разработка опросника суеверности
Абитов, И. Р., & Раисовна, А. Р. (2021) · Психологические исследования · doi:10.54359/ps.v14i75.145 · Cited by 5
Do Thor and Odin Have Bodies? Superperception and Divine Intervention among the Old Norse Gods
Taggart, D. (2019) · Religions · doi:10.3390/rel10080468 · Cited by 5
Investigating the Relationship between Adult Attachment Style and Belief in the Paranormal: Results from Two Studies
Rogers, P. (2013) · Imagination Cognition and Personality · doi:10.2190/ic.32.4.e · Cited by 5
Good luck, bad luck, and ambiguity aversion
Pulford, B. D., & Gill, P. (2014) · Judgment and Decision Making · doi:10.1017/s1930297500005520 · Cited by 5
The Psychology of Rituals: An Integrative Review and Process-Based FrameworkPreprint
Hobson, N. M., Risen, J. L., & Inzlicht, M. (2017) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.2944235 · Cited by 7
Playoff beards and unwashed uniforms: a scoping review on athletes’ superstitions and rituals
Rabinovitch, H., Johnston, K., Patelia, S., Cattle, A., Wojtowicz, M. A., & Baker, J. R. (2025) · International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology · doi:10.1080/1750984x.2025.2521776 · Cited by 4
Superstitious Behaviors in Sports and Exercise: A Systematic Literature Review Update
Pirwani, N., Szamosi, R. G., Barquín, R. R., Acheampong, E. Y., Szócska, B. V., de la Vega, R., Somogyi, A., & Szabó, A. (2025) · Scandinavian Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1111/sjop.70059 · Cited by 4
Scarcity affects cognitive biases: The case of the illusion of causality
Vinas, A., Blanco, F., & Matute, H. (2023) · Acta Psychologica · doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.104007 · Cited by 4
Cultural Appropriation for Improved Knowledge Acquisition in Medical Education
Ahmed, S., Hegazy, N. N., Amin, H. A. A., Ismail, M., Al-Akid, Y. F. A. E.-M., & Kumar, A. (2024) · Advances in Medical Education and Practice · doi:10.2147/amep.s450484 · Cited by 4
Controllable superstition and its relationship with enduring and behavioural involvement in gambling
Fong, L. H. N., Lam, D., & Fong, D. K. C. (2017) · International Gambling Studies · doi:10.1080/14459795.2017.1378363 · Cited by 4
Confidence Charms: How Superstition Influences Overconfidence Bias in Han and the Qiang Ethnic Minority Chinese
Li, H. (2021) · The Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1080/00223980.2021.1902918 · Cited by 4
Culture, Cognition, and Ritual
Xygalatas, D. (2024) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197689783.003.0003 · Cited by 5
Psychological Functioning in Adulthood: A Self-Efficacy Analysis
Artistico, D., Berry, J. M., Black, J. G., Cervone, D., Courtney, L., & Orom, H. (2011) · Cited by 4
Entre milagros, espíritus y esoterismo: pensamiento mágico y pseudociencia en el Chile globalizado del siglo XXI
Garcés, C. R., & Orrego, M. V. (2020) · Universitas Psychologica · doi:10.11144/javeriana.upsy18-4.emee · Cited by 4
The Power of the Paranormal (and Extraordinary)Mutants and Mystics: Science Fiction, Superhero Comics, and the Paranormal. By Jeffrey J. Kripal. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2012. Pp. xvi+370.Authors of the Impossible: The Paranormal and the Sacred. By Jeffrey J. Kripal. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010. Pp. xiii+332.
Taves, A. (2013) · History of Religions · doi:10.1086/673186 · Cited by 3
Make sport-related self-control better: Ritualized behavior in Chinese athletes
Yun, D., Zhang, L., Qiu, Y., Zheng, J., & Li, C. (2025) · Acta Psychologica · doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105145 · Cited by 3
Superstitious Ritual Behavior in Sports: A Comparative Study among Various Athletes
Mukherjee, A., & Shaikh, A. S. (2022) · Journal of Sports Research · doi:10.18488/90.v9i1.2912 · Cited by 3
Positive fortune telling enhances men’s financial risk taking
Tan, X., van Prooijen, J., & Lange, P. A. M. V. (2022) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0273233 · Cited by 3
Why do I buy number 8? – Conceptualizing and interpreting auspicious consumption in China
Yu, D. (2025) · Qualitative Market Research An International Journal · doi:10.1108/qmr-07-2024-0134 · Cited by 3
Extending Cognition Through Superstition: A Niche-Construction Theory Approach
Bertolotti, T. (2016) · Studies in applied philosophy, epistemology and rational ethics · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-38983-7_9 · Cited by 3
From Hobbits to Harry Potter: A Psychological Perspective on Fantasy
Webster, R. J., Weisberg, D. S., & Saucier, D. A. (2025) · Imagination Cognition and Personality · doi:10.1177/02762366251320601 · Cited by 4
A Qualitative Analysis of Superstitious Behavior and Performance: How it Starts, Why it Works, and How it Works
Farley, A. A. (2020) · Western CEDAR (Western Washington University) · doi:10.25710/day3-2647 · Cited by 3
Write Your Own Luck Campaign: Pentel’s Successful Advertising Strategy Based on Superstitious Beliefs in Thailand
Chinchanachokchai, P., & Chinchanachokchai, S. (2021) · Journal of Advertising Education · doi:10.1177/10980482211042520 · Cited by 3
The differential effects of good luck belief on cognitive performance in boys and girls
Kostovičová, L. (2019) · Europe’s Journal of Psychology · doi:10.5964/ejop.v15i1.1697 · Cited by 3
Isaac Barrow’un Kaleminden Türklerde Batıl İnançlar/Hurafeler/Halk İnanışları
Çiçekler, A. N. (2019) · Dil ve Edebiyat Araştırmaları/Journal of Language and Literature Studies · doi:10.30767/diledeara.635502 · Cited by 3
An Examination of Magical Beliefs as Predictors of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Dimensions
Spears, L. N. (2014) · KU ScholarWorks (The University of Kansas) · Cited by 3
Athletes and superstitious rituals
Pujalte, G. G. A., Nadwodny, J. P., Clapp, A. D. M., Amoako, A., PESIGAN, R. J., Dekker, T. M., CAMPOS, L., Tierney, M. G., Salinas, M. G., Cudahy, R., et al. (2024) · The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness · doi:10.23736/s0022-4707.24.15668-x · Cited by 2
Understanding the use of superstitious rituals in sports people
Morris, B., Thornton, C., Neave, N., & Allen, G. (2025) · Journal of Sports Sciences · doi:10.1080/02640414.2025.2532994 · Cited by 2
Why is Religion Characterized by Excess and Non-Functionality?
Schjoedt, U. (2013) · Method & Theory in the Study of Religion · doi:10.1163/15700682-12341309 · Cited by 1
The role of superstition in the placebo effect on memory performance
An, S., Malani, V. D., & Setia, A. (2021) · Cognitive Processing · doi:10.1007/s10339-021-01025-6 · Cited by 2
The usefulness of the useless: How ritualized behavior improves self-control under competition pressure
Yun, D., Zhang, L., Qiu, Y., Schinke, R. J., & Liu, J. (2023) · Journal of Applied Sport Psychology · doi:10.1080/10413200.2023.2274465 · Cited by 2
The effects of luck perception on consumer variety-seeking
Zhao, J., & Li, Z. (2025) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0324896 · Cited by 2
How Superstitious Are Academicians?
ALTIPARMAK, İ. B., & Aktas, G. (2015) · The Anthropologist · doi:10.1080/09720073.2015.11891846 · Cited by 2
Rituale im Spitzensport
Fischer, M. (2018) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-56219-2_24 · Cited by 2
Otimismo, Autoeficácia e Lócus de Controle na Adesão ao Tratamento de Pessoas Hipertensas
Santos, L. M. C., Almeida, L. G. R., & Faro, A. (2019) · Revista Psicologia e Saúde · doi:10.20435/pssa.v11i3.691 · Cited by 2
Exercise is a complex intervention
Franconi, G., & Robinson, N. (2015) · European Journal of Integrative Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.eujim.2015.04.005 · Cited by 2
Superstitious beliefs and marketing appeals
Sobreira, É. M. C., & Manosso, F. C. (2024) · Intexto · doi:10.19132/1807-8583.56.138252 · Cited by 1
Dress pins, bosses and pegged playing pieces: changing identities of some Early Medieval glass artefacts
Hall, M. A., Graham-Campbell, J. A., & Petts, D. (2024) · Archaeological Journal · doi:10.1080/00665983.2024.2412406 · Cited by 1
Enjoying the present or saving for the future: the influence of luck perception on intertemporal choice
Zhao, J., He, J., Li, Z., & Lu, M. (2024) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-024-07069-z · Cited by 1
Risk, fate, and luck: Understanding adventure intentions under the shadow of death ambiguity
Ali, F., Kement, Ü., Bayar, S. B., Doğan, S., & Bayram, G. E. (2025) · Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism · doi:10.1016/j.jort.2025.100970 · Cited by 1
The effect of luck perception on intertemporal decision-making: the mediating role of decision confidence and the moderating role of self-construal
Zhong, H., Wang, Y., & Li, Y. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1620033 · Cited by 2
CFO superstitions and the cost of debt: Evidence from Chinese “zodiac year” beliefs
Tang, M., & Bai, H. (2026) · Pacific-Basin Finance Journal · doi:10.1016/j.pacfin.2026.103282 · Cited by 1
Kissing the mezuzah and cognitive performance: Is there an observable benefit?
Siniver, E., & Yaniv, G. (2015) · Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization · doi:10.1016/j.jebo.2015.05.015 · Cited by 1
Cerebro y artes marciales: beneficios, riesgos e intervención neuropsicológica
Orozco-Calderón, G. (2015) · Ciencia & Futuro · Cited by 1
Revisiting the Valentine's Day and Halloween Birth Timing Phenomenon
Miller, J. G., & Smith, G. H. (2014) · Cited by 1
Superstitions: Illogical phenomena? Or Uniquely Useful Behaviours?
Freud, S., & Brebner, K. (2012) · Cited by 1
Silvester und Neujahr
Anders, L. (2018) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-56219-2_2 · Cited by 1
Effekt Glückssache?
Dickhäuser, O., Heinze, A., Hamm, M. L., Bales, A. S., Bellmann, S. A., Böger, D., Gagelmann, L. K., Kuhlenkamp, F., Merger, J. K., Viehweger, H., et al. (2020) · Zeitschrift für Pädagogische Psychologie · doi:10.1024/1010-0652/a000263 · Cited by 1
Abergläubische Rituale
Boecker, S. A. (2018) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-56219-2_19 · Cited by 1
Superstitions and Rationality
Crossman, J. (2024) · Palgrave studies in workplace spirituality and fulfillment · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-59020-7_6 · Cited by 1
Comparison of the trend of superstition in educated academics and commons Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad
Ramezani, K., Ramezani, M. A., & Ramezani, Z. (2016) · Cited by 1
Can a Balance Wristband Influence Postural Control?
Eichhorn, S., Foerster, S., Friemert, B., Willy, C., Riesner, H.-J., & Palm, H. (2017) · The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research · doi:10.1519/jsc.0000000000002091 · Cited by 1
STUDY ON SELF-CONFIDENCE CONTRIBUTING TO SUPERSTITIOUS BEHAVIOR
Shrivastav, M. (2017) · International Journal of Research -GRANTHAALAYAH · doi:10.29121/granthaalayah.v5.i7.2017.2128 · Cited by 1
An investigation of professional ballet dancers’ pre-performance routines and superstitious behaviours
Baselga, M. A. (2015) · University of Birmingham Institutional Research Archive (University of Birmingham) · Cited by 1
The Psychology of Ritual: An Empirical Investigation of Ritual’s Regulatory Functions and Psychological Processes
Hobson, N. M. (2017) · TSpace (University of Toronto) · Cited by 1
Special issue: fate, luck, and fortune: narratives of environmental risk editor's introduction
Eidinow, E. (2019) · Journal of Risk Research · doi:10.1080/13669877.2019.1608288 · Cited by 1
Superstition in Sport: A Phenomenological Study
del Rosario, D. (2017) · Digital Collections - Ithaca College Library (Ithaca College) · Cited by 1
Athletes' Perceptions of Pre-game Rituals in Open-skill Sports
Bonk, D. (2020) · TSpace (University of Toronto) · Cited by 1
The Foundations of Shamanism and Witchcraft
Singh, M. (2020) · Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) · Cited by 1
The Effect of Superstitious Omens on Emotions Without Influencing Risk Decision-Making Amid Uncertainty Among Chinese University StudentsPreprint
Liu, J., Yin, J., Li, Z., He, W., & Luo, J. (2023) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4489350 · Cited by 1
Religion and superstition through a cognitive perspective: examining the relationship of religious and superstitious beliefs to cognitive processes
Rios, J. M. D. C. (2015) · Figshare · Cited by 1
Book review—Connecting with customers to build a social business
Rice, G. (2012) · Global Business and Organizational Excellence · doi:10.1002/joe.21476
The Relationship between Superstitious Behaviors of Sports Fans, Team Identification, Team Location, and Game Outcome
Wilson, S. M. (2011) · TopSCHOLAR (Western Kentucky University)
Worry at Work: How State Anxiety Influences Negotiations, Advice, Reappraisal, and Performance
Brooks, A. W. (2013) · ScholarlyCommons (University of Pennsylvania)
PSYSOC 2013 Locus Of Control And Beliefs About Superstition And Luck In Adolescents: What's Their Relationship?
Sagone, E., & Caroli, M. E. D. (2014)
Effects of Priming the Concept of Luck on Task Persistence
Haight, K. R. (2016) · The Mathematics Enthusiast
Nature versus nurture: the influence of personal attributes and traits in determining an individual’s risk taking in trading
Tan, G. (2016) · Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) · doi:10.4225/55/5823f14114687
The Effects of Superstition on Stress Levels and the Relationship between Superstition and Religion
Roddy, S. (2016) · ChesterRep (University of Chester)

Authors: Damisch, L., Stoberock, B., & Mussweiler, T.
Affiliations: University of Cologne (DE)
Corresponding author: Damisch, Lysann
ORCID: Mussweiler, Thomas
Venue: Psychological Science
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2010-05-28
Volume: 21
Issue: 7
Pages: 1014-1020
ISSN: 0956-7976 (ISSN-L)
1467-9280
DOI: 10.1177/0956797610372631
OpenAlex: W2147094445
Cited by: 251
References: 44
Citations by year: 2026: 12 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 14
FWCI: 15.23
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: Association for Psychological Science
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
Keywords: superstition, good fortune, performance improvement, self-efficacy, task persistence, lucky charms, golf performance, motor dexterity, memory, anagram solving
MeSH terms: Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Motor Skills, Sports, Students, Superstitions, Task Performance and Analysis

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Keep Your Fingers Crossed!: How Superstition Improves Performance

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks