Magical Thinking: How This Irrational Belief Can Affect Your Mental Health
Key takeaways:
Magical thinking is when someone believes their thoughts or behaviors can affect an outcome of an event or the behaviors of others when there’s no evidence to suggest that’s possible.
Magical thinking is common in both children and adults, sometimes in the form of superstitions, such as believing that a lucky shirt can influence a sporting event.
In many cases, magical thinking isn’t anything to worry about. However, it can also be a symptom of a mental health condition.
Have you ever thought, “If I think about it hard enough, I’ll get a new PlayStation for my birthday.” Or maybe you think that if you wear the same socks every time your sports team has a game, you’ll keep your winning streak.
Magical thinking is when someone unrealistically believes that their thoughts, behaviors, or rituals can influence events or actions by others.
The examples above may be harmless. But magical thinking can relate to a more serious issue.
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How is magical thinking a type of cognitive distortion?
Magical thinking is a type of cognitive distortion, so let’s start there. Cognitive distortions are patterns of thinking that aren’t based in fact or logic. And they usually aren’t helpful.
Magical thinking is considered a cognitive distortion because it’s not based in fact. For example, there’s no scientific proof that wishing for something will make it come true. Beliefs that rituals or your actions can cause or prevent accidents are also not based in logic or reality.
What are examples of magical thinking?
Here are some other examples of magical thinking:
I can't walk this way because the black cat I saw will bring bad luck.
If I make a secret birthday wish, it will come true.
If I cross my fingers, then the car will start.
My lucky tie helped me get my new job.
My friend fell down the stairs because I was thinking something unkind about him.
What causes magical thinking?
Magical thinking may be a natural part of being human. To begin with, it’s very common in children. Psychologists believe this may be because children are trying to make sense of things they don’t understand. So they come up with reasons to explain events.
For example, a child may believe it stopped raining because they wanted it to. Adults, on the other hand, are more likely to understand the scientific reasons for rain starting and stopping.
As adults get older, they may have less magical thinking. Sometimes, this is due to experience. If a team keeps winning or losing regardless of whether someone wears their lucky shirt, they may begin to doubt their good-luck charm.
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However, some experts believe that it’s normal for magical thinking to continue even among adults. It may help some people cope with stressful situations, decreasing anxiety and providing a sense of control.
Is magical thinking harmful?
For those who aren’t living with a mental health condition, magical thinking is often harmless. It may even help with self-development and creativity. A desire to explore supernatural beliefs may also help people better understand themselves.
Even believing in bad luck or superstitions may not be an issue. Avoiding black cats and trying not to walk underneath ladders don’t generally cause problems. But it can be an issue if magical thinking gets in the way of your well-being.
For example, a fear of bad luck on Friday the 13th may cause you to avoid leaving your house that day. As a result, perhaps you miss your child’s musical recital. Or you may get in trouble at work for calling out sick too many days.
Most other research looking at problems with magical thinking relates to addiction or mental health conditions. For example, when a person with a gambling addiction relies on magical thinking as a form of good luck, it can make the problem worse.
Someone may believe that, although they’re losing at a casino, they can turn their luck around by using a lucky item or specific slot machine. But in the process, they may lose a significant amount of money. In fact, gamblers who believe they themselves are lucky are likely to spend more on gambling.
Is magical thinking the symptom of a mental health condition?
Sometimes, magical thinking overlaps with mental health diagnoses. In these cases, magical thinking can cause significant disruption in your life.
People with symptoms of psychosis are more likely to have frequent magical thinking. Frightening paranormal beliefs, in particular, are connected to delusions and hallucinations.
For example, someone with schizophrenia may believe they have the ability to influence the outcome of an election with their thoughts. As a result, they become obsessed with it and can’t focus on anything else.
Experts believe that magical thinking can be a component of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for some people as well. Someone with OCD may believe that checking their sink for leaks dozens of times will prevent a flood. Or they may avoid saying certain phrases or numbers for fear that they may “jinx” things otherwise.
A small case study found that decreasing magical thinking may also decrease symptoms of OCD. This suggests that there’s a strong link between the two.
What should you do if you or someone you know has magical thinking?
If you’re worried that you or someone you care about may be experiencing negative consequences due to magical thinking, consider finding professional help. A therapist or other mental health care provider can help assess the situation and recommend treatment.
You might consider a therapist skilled in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT therapists frequently work with cognitive distortions such as magical thinking.
To find a CBT therapist near you, search online using a database such as Psychology Today or Open Path. You can also ask your primary healthcare provider for a referral. And if you have health insurance, check your plan’s provider directory to find an in-network therapist.
The bottom line
Magical thinking occurs when someone believes that their thoughts or rituals can influence an outcome or another person’s behaviors when that’s unlikely to be the case. It’s common among children and, to a certain extent, adults. However, in some cases, it may relate to a mental health condition, such as OCD or schizophrenia. If you’re concerned about magical thinking in yourself or a loved one, consider reaching out for professional support.
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References
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Magical thinking. APA Dictionary of Psychology.
Brashier, N., et al. (2017). Magical thinking decreases across adulthood. Psychology and Aging.
Einstein, D. (2011). The treatment of magical ideation in two individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder. Frontiers in Psychology.
Kállai, J., et al. (2021). Cognitive gain or handicap: Magical ideation and self-absorption in clinical and non-clinical participants. Frontiers in Psychology.
Kim, S., et al. (2015). The effects of belief in good luck on counterfactual thinking on gambling behavior. Journal of Behavioral Addictions.
Oxford Library of Psychology. (2013). Oxford Handbook of the Development of Imagination. Oxford University Press.
St. James, Y., et al. (2011). Magical thinking in consumer coping. Journal of Consumer Research.
Therapist Aid. (2012). Cognitive distortions.
Yavuzer, Y. (2015). Investigating the relationship between handicapping tendencies, self-esteem and cognitive distortions. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice.
For additional resources or to connect with mental health services in your area, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. For immediate assistance, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
