Superstitious learning of abstract order from random reinforcement.

Humans and other animals often infer spurious associations among unrelated events. However, such superstitious learning is usually accounted for by conditioned associations, raising the question of whether an animal could develop more complex cognitive structures independent of reinforcement. Here, we tasked monkeys with discovering the serial order of two pictorial sets: a "learnable" set in which the stimuli were implicitly ordered and monkeys were rewarded for choosing the higher-rank stimulus and an "unlearnable" set in which stimuli were unordered and feedback was random regardless of the choice. We replicated prior results that monkeys reliably learned the implicit order of the learnable set. Surprisingly, the monkeys behaved as though some ordering also existed in the unlearnable set, showing consistent choice preference that transferred to novel untrained pairs in this set, even under a preference-discouraging reward schedule that gave rewards more frequently to the stimulus that was selected less often. In simulations, a model-free reinforcement learning algorithm (Q-learning) displayed a degree of consistent ordering among the unlearnable set but, unlike the monkeys, failed to do so under the preference-discouraging reward schedule. Our results suggest that monkeys infer abstract structures from objectively random events using heuristics that extend beyond stimulus-outcome conditional learning to more cognitive model-based learning mechanisms.

Exploring the Impact of Religion, Superstition, and Professional Cultural Competence on Access to HIV and Mental Health Treatment Among Black Sub-Sahara African Communities in the English City of Birmingham.

HIV and mental health are sensitive subjects among Black Sub-Saharan African (BSSA) communities despite the disproportionate impact of HIV among this population and high comorbidity between HIV and mental disorders. This study explored the impact of religion, superstition, and professional cultural competence on access to HIV and mental health services among BSSA communities in the English city of Birmingham. Researchers utilised explorative qualitative methods. Specifically, 12 focus groups were conducted followed by a semi-structured interview with a member from each focus group. Data were analysed using a thematic approach guided by the four phases of the silences framework. Results suggest that religion, superstition, and professional cultural competence affect access to HIV and mental health services among BSSA communities. Findings indicate a need to educate religious leaders on the impact of HIV and mental health stigma as well as a need for cultural competence training among health professionals.

The role of superstition in the placebo effect on memory performance.

Superstitions and the placebo effect have each been found to influence human behaviour. The present study aimed to determine whether there is a relationship between superstition and the placebo effect, and whether this relationship affects human cognition and behaviour. We hypothesized that more superstitious people would be more prone to the placebo effect and that it would improve their performance on cognitive tasks. Results showed that in the placebo condition, more superstitious people memorized more words than less superstitious people. However, in the control condition, less superstitious people memorized more words than more superstitious people. Overall, the findings supported our hypothesis. The findings of the study are important, as they draw a link between the placebo effect and superstition, and further show that these two elements impact human performance in cognitive ability tasks.

Confidence Charms: How Superstition Influences Overconfidence Bias in Han and the Qiang Ethnic Minority Chinese.

The overconfidence effect is a cognitive bias in which individuals' subjective confidence in their judgements is greater than their actual performance. Extending beyond a range of contributing factors in the emergence of the overconfidence bias, the present research examines whether superstition, an under-explored yet important factor, can influence people's perceived level of confidence. Drawing on previous findings regarding the consequences of superstitions, we propose that activating the good-luck-related superstitions can increase overconfidence in one's judgment. Specifically, Experiments 1 and 2 show that Chinese Han student and non-student participants, who were activated by different types of superstitions, displayed a higher level of overconfidence than those in the absence of superstition. Experiment 3 fully replicated the causal effect of superstition beliefs on the heightened overconfidence bias in a traditional population of Chinese Qiang people. Moreover, Experiments 1 through 3 consistently show that self-efficacy mediates the relationship between superstition and overconfidence. Taken together, these findings suggest that superstition strengthens people's belief in their own performance ability, which in turn boosts overconfidence.

'It's almost superstition: If I don't think about it, it won't happen'. Public knowledge and attitudes towards advance care planning: A sequential mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Internationally, participation in advance care planning is low. Whilst a community action approach is advocated, what the public know and understand about advance care planning is unknown. AIM: To assess public awareness, knowledge and attitudes towards advance care planning and identify strategies to raise awareness within a public health framework. DESIGN: Sequential mixed methods comprising a cross-sectional survey and focus group/interviews. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: A random representative sample of adults from one region of the United Kingdom (n = 1201; response rate 56%) completed a face-to-face survey. Twenty-five participants consented to an additional focus group/interview held in a secure accessible location or via telephone. RESULTS: Most participants (78.7%) acknowledged the benefits of advance care planning conversations, however, two thirds did not want to think about advance care planning or find out more at present. Respondents were reluctant to broach advance care planning as it was linked to end of life care and funeral plans, and they did not wish to cause distress to their loved one. Respondents trusted their family to respect their wishes and they considered having an advance care plan in place would be of assistance in the future. Top-down leadership, normalisation, and increased education were identified as potential approaches to overcome barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Advance care planning was recognised as important despite limited awareness, lack of knowledge and misperceptions. Whilst a community action approach to enhance understanding and engagement was supported, a 'one size fits all' approach will not work; rather bespoke targeting is required with educational and media messaging aligned.

Pathological Gambling, Gambling Disorder, and Problem Gambling Among the Chinese Ethnic Population Living in Western Countries: Is Culture a Sufficient Explanation for the Reported Excess Rates?

A significant gap remains in the understanding of the psychosocial and cultural factors and processes in the development and maintenance of pathological gambling, gambling disorder, and problem gambling among the Chinese ethnic population living in the Western countries. This narrative reviews papers on gambling and pathological gambling among the Chinese ethnic group in Western countries to provide a deeper understanding of the cultural and psychosocial factors and processes that lead to the development and maintenance of pathological gambling, gambling disorder, and problem gambling. The factors leading to development of problem gambling, which also carry distinctive cultural differences, include acculturation process among Chinese migrants to western countries, their social learning patterns in gambling, the patterns and motivation seen in Chinese gamblers, their gambling-related cognitive bias and distortions as well as barriers to their help-seeking behaviours. The collectivistic oriental culture may explain for intrafamilial development of gambling behaviour and this strong male authority in the traditional Chinese family set-up also reinforces this influence. The Chinese culture is associated with increased risk-taking behaviour. Superstitious thinking is more prevalent in the Chinese culture and this can be manifested in individuals' perceptions of fate and luck. Future research projects studying pathological gambling and ethnic minorities in the UK should seek greater understanding and improved management of this condition in a small but highly relevant population.

The caul and its relation to drowning, lawyers and sorcerers.

The caul is a fragment of amniotic membrane that is occasionally observed adherent to the head and face of a newborn child. A dried caul has been in The University of Adelaide Pathology Archive for a number of years. Beliefs in the supernatural powers of these detached membranes are found in the historical traditions of a wide variety of cultures, resulting in cauls being regularly dried out and sold as talismans. It was thought that lawyers could sway opinions in court more readily if they possessed a caul, and that such a token could either be used to facilitate black magic rituals or alternatively to thwart the machinations of sorcerers and witches. A pervasive belief was that a caul would guarantee that the owner would never drown resulting in cauls being sold for between £10 to £30 in the seventeenth century at a time when considerable naval warfare and maritime exploration were occurring. Thus, rather than illuminating pathophysiological processes occasional specimens in pathology archives may remind us of folk traditions and superstitions that have long since been forgotten in modern times.

Why do pregnant women prefer cesarean birth? A qualitative study in a tertiary care center in Southern Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Increasing worldwide rates of cesarean section are of global concern. In recent years, cesarean births upon maternal request have become a hotly debated issue. Hence, this study aimed to explore maternal reasons for cesarean preference without medical indications. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted, using in-depth interviews with 27 pregnant women who preferred cesarean birth, attending antenatal care in Songklanagarind Hospital from September 2018 to June 2019. Data were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Maternal reasons for cesarean preference were classified into six main categories: fear of childbirth, safety concerns related to health risk perceptions, negative previous birth experiences, positive attitudes toward cesarean birth, access to biased information and superstitious beliefs in auspicious birth dates. Most women had more than one reason for opting cesarean birth. CONCLUSION: Several reasons for cesarean birth preference have been elucidated. One striking reason was superstitious beliefs in auspicious birth dates, which are challengable for obstetricians to deal with. Obstetricians should explore the exact reasons why women request cesarean birth in order to prevent or diminish unnecessary cesarean births.

Lucky Events and the Need for Uniqueness.

This study shows that people are likely to consider themselves special after experiencing lucky events, which increases the motivation for self-enhancement, consequently prompting them to deviate from majority-endorsed options and express a need for uniqueness. Prior luck-related research has primarily explored the effects of perceived luck on superstition or the illusion of control. The present study explored whether incidental luck affects consumers' motivation to conform or stand out, specifically people's tendency to diverge from others by choosing minority-endorsed options. The results from three experiments supported the proposed hypotheses in this study. Experiment 1 revealed that a lucky event arouses people's need for uniqueness. Experiment 2 demonstrated that when people experience a lucky event and perceive that luck favors them after making a downward comparison, they consider themselves special and prefer minority-endorsed options. Experiment 3 revealed that self-enhancement is a mediator in the effect of lucky events on the need for uniqueness-seeking behavior. The findings of this research not only provide additional insight into the behavioral consequences of lucky events but also extend the understanding of uniqueness-seeking behavior.

Relationship and Effects of Community Problems on Anxiety and Suicide: A Case-Control Psychological Autopsy Study.

This study aimed to explore the relationship and the effects of community problems on anxiety and suicide. Data were from a case-control psychological autopsy study (392 suicides and 416 community living controls) carried out in 16 rural counties from three provinces in China. The World Health Organization Suicide Prevention-Multisite Intervention Study on Suicidal behaviors scale of community stress and problems and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used to measure the community problems and trait anxiety. Spearman's correlation and multivariable regression methods were used to probe the effect of community problems on anxiety and suicide. There were 12 and 6 community problems correlated with anxiety (rs = 0.169, p < 0.001) and suicide (rs = 0.081, p = 0.022), respectively. Medical care, alcohol abuse, superstition, and job security were important community problems for anxiety and suicide. Community problems had stronger correlation with anxiety than suicide. It might be an effective method to reduce anxiety and suicide risk by solving different community problems.

Influencia externa en los partos: efecto lunar gravitacional y meteorológico / External influences on birth deliveries: Lunar gravitational and meteorological effects

OBJETIVO: Investigar la influencia externa tanto lunar como climatológica en la frecuencia de partos. Incluye fuerza gravitacional lunar mediante apogeo y perigeo lunar apenas investigado. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo mediante revisión de historias clínicas de todos los partos únicos de inicio espontáneo durante un periodo de 4 años (2015-2018). Se analiza estadísticamente la relación de los partos mediante coeficiente de nacimientos con variables cualitativas lunares (4 fases clásicas, apogeo-perigeo lunar y superlunas) y variables cuantitativas atmosféricas (presiones atmosféricas medias, temperatura media y velocidad media del viento). RESULTADOS: No se encontró relación entre las variables estudiadas y el coeficiente de nacimientos. Se encontró periodicidad de partos con más nacimientos en los meses de mayo y junio. CONCLUSIÓN: Pese al mito existente de la influencia meteorológica y, sobre todo, lunar en los partos, no se encuentra razón estadística que lo apoye. Además de las fases clásicas, la fuerza gravitacional lunar tampoco parece desencadenar el parto

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of external factors such as lunar and meteorological effects on the frequency of birth deliveries. It includes the lunar gravitational force using the scarcely investigated lunar apogee and perigee (furthest and closest distance to earth, respectively). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of all spontaneous single deliveries during a 4 year period (2015-2018). A statistical analysis was performed on the relationship of the deliveries using birth rates with qualitative lunar variables (four classic phases, lunar apogee- perigee, and super moons) and quantitative atmospheric variables (mean atmospheric pressures, mean temperature, and mean wind velocity). RESULTS: No relationship was found between the variables studied and the birth rate. There were periods with more births in the months of May and June. CONCLUSION: Despite the myth on the meteorological, and in particular, the lunar influence on birth deliveries, no statistical association was found to support this. Furthermore, the classic moon phases and the lunar gravitational force do not seem to trigger birth delivery either

[Eyes and gaze: Proverbs and expressions]. / Des yeux et du regard : proverbes et expressions.

The eyes and the gaze participate in a major way in our non-verbal language, even before the verb appeared. From the Bible to contemporary language, through Greek mythology, theater, literature or spoken language, a multitude of expressions and proverbs present the eye, what it sees and what it symbolizes.

TITLE: Des yeux et du regard : proverbes et expressions. ABSTRACT: Les yeux et le regard participent de façon majeure à notre langage non verbal, avant même l'apparition du verbe. Depuis la Bible jusqu'au langage contemporain, en passant par la mythologie grecque, le théâtre, la littérature ou le langage parlé, une multitude d'expressions et de proverbes mettent en scène l'œil, ce qu'il voit et ce qu'il symbolise. Cet article parcourt les champs sémantiques de l'œil et du regard, leur évolution dans le temps, et leur étonnante richesse. En définitive, une revue de notre humanité.

Knowledge, attitude and traditional practices towards epilepsy among relatives of PWE (patients with epilepsy) in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Epilepsy remains one of the most common neurological diseases in the world but seems to be widely misunderstood, especially in low-income countries. Patients with epilepsy (PWE) can face considerable stigma in society, and there have been various studies that evaluate the knowledge and attitude of the population towards epilepsy. However, there was no study of this kind in Morocco. PURPOSE: Our aim was thus to assess knowledge, attitudes, and traditional practices specifically among relatives and caregivers of PWE in our community, in order to better evaluate their educational needs. METHODS: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out over a year long period in the outpatient neurology clinic of the Mohammed 6 University Hospital, a tertiary referral center in Marrakesh, Morocco. The respondents were relatives of PWE (usually parents and siblings) or spouses who attended the outpatient clinic alongside them. The interviews were carried out by the same investigator at the outpatient clinic during patient's visits, face-to-face using Moroccan Arabic or Darija, with an 18-item questionnaire. RESULTS: Responses of 100 participants were analyzed. The mean age was 40 years old and 5 months. Sixty-six percent of the respondents were women, 50% of rural origin and 76 % lived in an urban area. Forty-one percent were illiterate, and 74% were of low income. Only 65% of the participants knew the Arabic term for epilepsy. For 48%, epilepsy was linked with witchcraft or demonic possession. Seventy-five percent of the respondents had at least one prior consultation to a traditional healer. Only 5% in our study knew the first-aid basics to apply in case of a seizure. CONCLUSION: Despite having a relative with epilepsy, our participants' knowledge was very poor. The level of education and income seem to be the two major contributing factors. Cultural beliefs and superstition are very pervasive, and the majority of our sample had already used traditional healing and alternative medicine. Our study highlights the need for a more global intervention in Morocco encompassing healthcare policies, awareness campaigns, and educational reforms.

Bed 13 is not worse than any other. A retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Risk management and patient safety are closely related, following this premise some industries have adopted measures to omit number 13. Healthcare is not left behind, in some hospital the day of surgery's or bed numbering avoid number 13. The objective was to assess whether it is necessary to redesign the safety policies implemented in hospitals based on avoiding 13 in the numbering of rooms/beds. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Mortality and the number of adverse events suffered by patients admitted to rooms/beds numbering 13 (bad chance) or 7 (fair chance) over a two-year period to Intensive Care Unit, Medicine, Gastroenterology, Surgery, and Paediatric service were registered and compared. RESULTS: A total of 8553 admissions were included. They had similar length-of-stay and Charlson Index scores (p-value=0.435). Mortality of bed 13 was 268 (6.2%, 95% CI 5.5-6.9) and 282 in bed 7 (6.7%, 95% CI 5.9-7.5) (p-value=0.3). A total of 422 adverse events from 4342 admissions (9.7%, 95% CI 8.9-10.6) occurred in bed 13, while in bed 7 the count of adverse events was 398 in 4211 admissions (9.4%, 95% CI 8.6-10.4) (p-value=0.6). Odds Ratio for mortality was equal to 0.9 (95% CI 0.8-1.1) and suffering adverse events when admitted to bed 13 versus bed 7 was 1.03 (95% CI 0.9-1.2). CONCLUSIONS: Bed 13 is not a risk factor for patient safety. Hospitals should pay attention to causes and interventions to avoid adverse events based on evidence rather than beliefs or myths.

Uncovering Underlying Processes Before Illusion of Control Begins in Gambling Disorder: A Pilot Study.

Gambling Disorder (GD) is characterized by persistent betting even in face of accruing debts and psychosocial hardship. Gambling Disorder behavior has been linked to conditioning, cognitive distortions and superstitious behavior. Previous studies have demonstrated that during response-outcome analytical tests (ROAT), non-gambling individuals are precluded from response extinction when failure feedback is suppressed, and develop superstitious behaviors and illusion of control instead. Gambling can be regarded as a ROAT paradigm in which disordered gamblers (DGs) fail to compute failure feedback; hence they do not perceive the independence between response and outcome. In order to investigate early phenomena on response and outcome processing in DGs, we developed two short ROAT versions, one with a controllable outcome and one with an uncontrollable outcome, both with explicit failure feedback. Twenty DGs and twenty healthy controls were assessed using this novel paradigm. Compared to controls, DGs reported higher distress during the controllable ROAT, less self-confidence in the uncontrollable ROAT, and more random responses and less use of analytical strategies in both tests, evidencing potential deficits in cognitive control. In contrast to previous findings, DGs did not demonstrate more superstitious beliefs, or illusion of control, and were generally more skeptical than controls regarding the controllability of both ROAT versions. Taken together, our findings provide some support for deficits in cognitive control in GD that precede illusion of control and superstitious behaviors.

Causal illusion as a cognitive basis of pseudoscientific beliefs.

Causal illusion has been proposed as a cognitive mediator of pseudoscientific beliefs. However, previous studies have only tested the association between this cognitive bias and a closely related but different type of unwarranted beliefs, those related to superstition and paranormal phenomena. Participants (n = 225) responded to a novel questionnaire of pseudoscientific beliefs designed for this study. They also completed a contingency learning task in which a possible cause, infusion intake, and a desired effect, headache remission, were actually non-contingent. Volunteers with higher scores on the questionnaire also presented stronger causal illusion effects. These results support the hypothesis that causal illusions might play a fundamental role in the endorsement of pseudoscientific beliefs.

Superstition, Misconceptions, and Magical Beliefs in Burns Patients-A Cross-Sectional Study of 100 Patients.

Superstitious beliefs have been frequently encountered in our day-to-day practices among patients and caretakers. Though this is a common phenomenon, there is a paucity of data pertaining to these beliefs due to various reasons. Many of these beliefs are deep engraved into the culture and mindsets of the population. This is an observational study performed in Tertiary burn care center in India during period October 1, 2018 to January 31, 2019. Data from 100 patient units were collected through a set of questionnaires given to each of patient and their caregivers/family members and responses were collected and analyzed. In the food category of superstitions, there was a thought that white colored foods had to be avoided to avoid pus discharge and wound healing in 60% of the response; eating pomegranate or drinking the juice of pomegranate improves the hemoglobin in 80% of the response. Wearing various colored strings in various parts of the body seemed to be a dominant practice in 85% of the responses, wearing the hair with origin from human, donkeys, horses, and various animals was practiced in 45% of people and wearing peacock feathers was seen in 40% of patients. About 95% of the patients thought adversely to the idea of bathing or even contact of the water with the wounds. This study is an attempt to analyze the different parameters of superstition, misconception, and magical beliefs.