It's All in the Mind

[Lionel]

Lucky charms do work, but only in the minds of those who carry them, researchers said today.The first comprehensive test of charms’ effectiveness found they do not increase luck in events of pure chance, but users often felt luckier and more confident and successful.The study, by Professor Richard Wiseman of the Psychology Department of the University of Hertfordshire, found that carrying a charm had no effect on the chances of choosing winning lottery numbers.But 30% of those tested felt their luck had improved.Nearly all those who did report increased luck had said prior to the study that they expected the charm to work, suggesting the charm’s efficacy was based on expectation.At the end of the study, 70% of participants said they would continue to carry the lucky coin with them once the experiment had finished.

Four-leaf clovers have been seen as good luck charms since the time that Druids believed they could impart special powers, such as the ability to detect the presence of bad spirits.The lucky heritage of horseshoes stems in part from when they were considered to repel witches because their crescent shape resembled a new moon.

View: Full Article | Source: Scotsman News