Why do we continue to be fascinated by ghosts and superstition? 

With the autumn season fully upon us, the brown and yellow leaves dominating the landscape, the chilly October wind starting to rise, and the urge to watch a spooky movie from the comfort of our bed creeping in, our supernatural beliefs start to awaken once more.

Halloween is peeking around the corner, and with it come all the tales of the macabre that have been passed down for generations. Whether we see ghosts as a harmless Halloween costume, a means to spike our adrenaline by interacting with scary tales, or as a spirit that incontestably walks among us, they are an undeniable part of Britain’s culture. Despite all the scientific knowledge available and groundbreaking innovations like artificial intelligence reshaping our society, superstition and scepticism still prevail. Why, in an age of rationality, do we continue to be fascinated by the unexplainable?

Superstition remains one of the most enduring forms of supernatural belief today. Whether we realise it or not, most of us practice a form of superstition in our daily lives. Many feel compelled to knock on wood after jinxing themselves or to cross their fingers when they make a wish. A YouGov survey reports many believe it’s a sign of bad luck to break a mirror (30%), open an umbrella indoors (26%), or walk under a ladder (29%). We avoid certain acts and perform others to wash away ill fortune, yet more often than not, we cannot give a rational explanation for it. 

Ghost sightings and witches’ curses still influence our behaviour, despite studies and scientific advancements providing explanations for so-called paranormal activity

An article from the Science Survey explains that most superstitions can be linked back to old folklore, logic, or religion. For example, the negative connotation of Friday the 13th can be linked back to the Bible: Judas was the 13th guest to arrive at the Last Supper, and he betrayed Jesus, which led to his crucifixion on a Friday. The reason why opening an umbrella indoors is seen as bad luck is that old umbrellas used to be much less safe and could cause accidents.

However, when we avoid opening an umbrella indoors today, it is purely because of superstition, not rational thinking. Stuart Vyse, an expert on psychology and superstition, argues in a TED-Ed video that “since doing something like knocking on wood doesn’t require much effort, following the superstition is often easier than consciously resisting it.” 

Superstitious acts don’t, in fact, have the power to grant good or bad fortune, yet still hold an important place in our culture and are a testament to how ancient beliefs and behaviours can be passed down to future generations. Beyond superstition, many still believe that ghosts exist and live among us – why do they hold on to their views when science is beginning to rationally explain paranormal events?

Even Warwick offers a Weird Walk Tour of the city, and the success of the industry is a prime example of the public’s continuing fascination with hauntings

The United Kingdom’s history is deeply linked with the supernatural – it is listed as the second most haunted country in the world, following the United States, with Edinburgh reputed as the spookiest city in Europe. Ghost hunting is a popular form of tourism in many cities – even Warwick offers a Weird Walk Tour of the city, and the success of the industry is a prime example of the public’s continuing fascination with hauntings. Although 46% of Britons do not associate themselves with any religion, 38% say they believe in ghosts. This figure is striking, given that only 55% of self-identified Christians believe there is a God. 

A prime example of a haunting that persists to this day is the curse of the Bard’s Scottish play. The Royal Shakespeare Company explains the twisted history of Macbeth on their website, which is said to have been cursed by a coven of witches enraged that Shakespeare used real spells in his play, leading to many strange accidents and deaths surrounding the production of the play. To ward off such ill fortune, it became forbidden to utter ‘Macbeth’ inside a theatre. Should someone do so, they must follow a ritual of repentance: “Exit the theatre, spin around three times, spit, curse and then knock on the theatre door to be allowed back in…” 

Ghost sightings and witches’ curses still influence our behaviour, despite studies and scientific advancements providing explanations for so-called paranormal activity. The BBC published an article exploring the science behind hauntings, explaining how sleep paralysis, mouldy houses, and electromagnetic fields can influence people to believe their house is haunted: “According to the NHS, aspergillus mould … can cause shortness of breath and optic nerve inflammation, causing dark shapes to float across people’s vision. Stachybotrys, or black mould, has been shown in a lab test on mice to create a feeling of fear.” Since mould is present in many haunted facilities, it may explain why these places feel haunted or oppressive. Why is it, then, that we remain fascinated with the eerie despite these discoveries? 

One thing remains certain: with Halloween only a few days away, even sceptics welcome the thrill of a chilling ghost story

Chris French, an expert in anomalistic psychology, suggests that “many people are drawn toward the paranormal and related topics because they … [provide] seemingly satisfactory answers to many of the big existential questions that face us all.” With rising worries about climate change, political unrest, and the cost of living crisis, it is understandable that many would turn to the paranormal and superstitious as a way to find a sense of stability in a world spiralling out of control. Speculations about the paranormal are often a projection of uncertainties about our environment, and although the answers to all our questions seem to be within reach thanks to artificial intelligence, many still find comfort in checking their horoscopes, keeping a lucky charm on them, or performing a ritualistic act of superstition when they believe they are jinxed. 

Recent research even links supernatural belief to trust in artificial intelligence. One study found that “participants with higher paranormal beliefs and positive attitudes toward AI were more likely to perceive AI predictions as valid, reliable, useful, and personalised, even when faced with fictitious outputs.” Furthermore, an AP News article noted the increasingly religious language used by prominent tech figures when discussing AI. This ultimately raises the question of whether the appeal of both the supernatural and AI stems from their ability to relieve the individual from the burden of finding answers for all things unknown. 

One thing remains certain: with Halloween only a few days away, even sceptics welcome the thrill of a chilling ghost story or a horror house attraction. While the rational seems to be taking over, the question of whether ghosts and other beings exist will forever remain a source of fascination. The festival of Halloween is one to celebrate regardless of personal belief – don the costume of your favourite monster, watch the film that feels most sombre, and in the dark, beware not to wander!