Superstitions

### Cold Open

Jason Silva: For the most rational technologically advanced species on the planet, we humans can be awfully superstitious. And superstition comes in all shapes and sizes. astrology, omens, prophecy, luck, even just regular old magic. Superstition is all around us every day. While the logical part of your brain knows these things aren't really unlucky, another part of your brain says why take the chance? But the question is why? Obviously we can't control the universe, but we often take comfort in pretending we can. Which is why we come up with rituals, beliefs and habits we think can affect how things turn out for good or bad. And these rituals, beliefs and habits are what we call superstition.

### Questions

Where do superstitions come from? Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why?

Do you think it's possible to read someone else's mind?

## Games

### Game #1: Circle, Where?

There's a blue circle, but it doesn't actually exist.

Result: Your brain sees only the big picture. Four pieces come together to make a circle.

Why: Because your brain connects the four pieces make your brain believe it. That is a pattern your brain often recognizes, like burning yourself by accident, leading you to be more careful. Your brain added information that wasn't there. A phenomenon known as cortical diffusion. Cortical diffusion finds meaning in nothing. Just like superstition.

### Game #2: Static Superstition

Try to identify what is in a series of static images.

Result: Your brain is able to see something meaningful in static. Even when there's only computer generated-junk.

Why: Your brains are hard-wired for superstition. Because your brain needs to find an answer to random questions. Our brains also love patterns.

### Game #3: Eric's Upper Hand

Memorize a card from Eric's deck of cards.

Result: Eric predicts your card on his back. The 10 of clubs and 9 of hearts.

Why: Because he kept the 10 of clubs card, the last one in the deck, for just a tiny bit longer. By doing that, you remember that card due to the fact that your brain recognized it more than the others, and you feel like you actually chose that card out of choice.

### Game #4: Spot the Difference

Find the hidden outlier in the images.

Result: You probably found the outlier.

So?: Superstitions are about patterns. So when your brain sees the outlier, that doesn't fit into a pattern, it throws that info out.

### Game #5: Mind Reading or Mind Control?

Harrison Greenbaum will try to read the minds of volunteers. Will it work?

Result: He is able to "read" the minds of two volunteers, but he's not actually a psychic!

How: Psychics use techniques to make them look believable. Some techniques include:

* Shotgunning(Throw out a ton of information and hope something sticks or resonates.)
* Rainbow Ruse(Taking a characteristic, pairing it with it's opposite. It can't miss because both sides of the spectrum are covered.)
* Barnum Statement(A general statement that could apply to everyone, but trying to make it seem personal.)

Now it's time to identify them in practice.

Result: Psychic powers aren't so magical after all.

Why: A so called confirmation bias happens when your brain picks up on info it wants to hear. The left hemisphere keeps info that is relevant, everything else is tossed out, even important info. Confirmation Bias leads to trusting psychics because they want them to reinforce their own beliefs. It's what makes superstitions possible.

## List of Experts

* Sri Sarma
* Eric Leclerc(Illusionist)
* Harrison Greenbaum(Special Guest)