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Superstition

 

Techniques Conditioning > Superstition

Description | Example | Discussion | See also

 

Description

Superstition is belief in irrational things. In the context of conditioning, it can be seen where a subject gets one reward or punishment and then expects that they will get it again. It also happens where the subject assumes that any number of additional criteria form a part of a cue or stimulus for action.

Example

An actor counts to ten before a performance. They get a standing ovation. From then on, they always count to ten before going on stage.

A person always trains a dog in the garden. The dog assumes that obeying the command 'sit' leads to a reward only in the garden and consequently does not reliably sit on command elsewhere.

Discussion

Superstitious action can easily happen as a result of accidental reinforcement, where the subject assumes a causal relationship between a cue and stimulus or stimulus an action that in practice are not related other than by coincidence.

Once people believe something, they tend to develop reasons for these beliefs. This reasoning is then used as an argument against attempts to persuade them that their beliefs are wrong. In this way, it can be difficult to dissuade superstitious action.

See also

Positive Reinforcement

 

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Site Menu

| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

 

 

Please help and share:

 

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

+ Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

About
Guest Articles
Blog!
Books
Changes
Contact
Guestbook
Quotes
Students
Webmasters

 

| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links |

© Changing Works 2002-
Massive Content — Maximum Speed