People have believed in malevolent spells and divine favors for thousands of years, across diverse societies. These ideas are not just folk myths inherited orally; they are deeply rooted in the human mind and how we interpret chaos. Belief in negative forces and positive interventions often arises from our desire to impose order on unpredictability. When something bad happens without an obvious cause, it is less threatening mentally to attribute it to an malevolent energy than to accept the chaos of chance. Similarly, when good things happen unexpectedly, we may see them as a blessing, a confirmation of cosmic care.

The psychology behind these beliefs is tied to our pattern-seeking nature. Humans are hardwired to infer intent, even when none exist. This is called pattern recognition bias. If you say something negative about someone and then they have bad luck, your brain might conflate the events. The mind constructs a meaningful story that feels satisfying, even if it is not logical. This same mechanism makes people feel that a blessing has been granted after a intentional invocation, reinforcing the belief that speech carries supernatural weight.

Cultural transmission plays a a foundational role. From childhood, we are exposed to stories, traditions, and warnings about curses and blessings. These ideas become part of our worldview, often without us realizing it. A grandmother’s warning, a spiritual doctrine, or a community tale can shape how we respond to adversity and success. Even people who consider themselves skeptical may still feel tension when negativity is invoked, or comfort when they receive a blessing, because these ideas are anchored in deep psychological roots.

Placebo and nocebo effects are also crucial. The nocebo effect is when negative expectations lead to real physical or emotional symptoms. If someone believes they are marked by misfortune, they may experience physical decline due to mental burden because of that perception. On the flip side, the positive expectation response can make someone feel resilient and divinely shielded after receiving a blessing. The mind has a profound effect on physiology, and belief can trigger real physiological changes.

Social dynamics reinforce these beliefs. When a community shares a collective understanding of supernatural influence, it creates a collective cohesion. Rituals around protection or blessing can foster unity, offering solace during crisis. Even in modern societies, people wear amulets, say prayers, or avoid certain numbers not because they are scientifically certain, but because these acts provide psychological comfort.

Importantly, belief in supernatural forces of harm and grace is not always irrational. It can be a psychological buffer. Life is chaotic, and we are not truly in charge. Believing in a blessing can give someone hope. Believing in a negative force can explain pain sometimes even shifting blame away from themselves. In this way, these beliefs serve a mental survival role: they alleviate fear and create structure.

Understanding the psychology of spiritual attributions does not mean we have to label them as delusion. Instead, کتاب حکمت قرن we can see them as expressions of primal desires—to find purpose, to regain agency, to feel loved. Whether we believe in them or not, they remain enduring drivers of emotion and behavior.