superstition
Let an agent describe superstitions across cultures neutrally with attribution, explain how researchers account for them, distinguish superstition from religion and folklore as debated, and support cultural understanding.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions
Understand What superstition means.
Definition
Definitions and debates.
Definition
Definition.
- How is superstition defined, who applies the label, and how do scholars debate its boundary with religion and folklore? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral and attributed? boundary
Examples
Specific beliefs.
Examples
Examples.
- What is this belief, where is it held and what meaning do its holders give it, described in their terms? provenance
- Which entry fits it? action
Research Explanations.
Psychology
Psychological accounts.
Psychology
Psychology.
- How do psychologists explain superstitious beliefs, through learning, control and pattern detection? provenance
- Which findings are contested? boundary
Anthropology
Anthropological accounts.
Anthropology
Anthropology.
- How do anthropologists and folklorists describe the functions of such beliefs in communities? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Culture Superstitions in culture.
Regions
By culture.
Regions
By culture.
- Which beliefs are documented in this culture, such as Japanese superstitions, and how are they practised? provenance
- Is respectful language used? boundary
Occupations
Occupational superstitions.
Occupations
Occupations.
- What are theatrical, sporting and maritime superstitions, and how are they explained? provenance
- Which entry fits a specific tradition? action
Learn Health and teaching.
Health
Beliefs and health.
Health
Health.
- When can acting on beliefs affect health decisions, and how do health bodies advise? provenance
- Is a medical situation present, which needs a clinician? boundary
Teach
Teaching.
Teach
Teaching.
- How can beliefs and their study be taught respectfully? action
- Which misconceptions arise? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Society, people and institutions
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- SOC
- Domain
- SOC.ORG
- Other names and narrower kinds
- puppy pregnancy syndrome, theatrical superstitions, spell, Japanese superstitions
What it is Filled
A belief or practice held to be irrational or unfounded by those who describe it as such, typically linking events to luck, omens, charms, spells or supernatural causation without accepted evidence, such as theatrical superstitions, number taboos, Japanese and other culturally specific superstitions, and culture-bound beliefs like puppy pregnancy syndrome; what counts as superstition is contested and varies by culture and belief system, and this entry describes beliefs neutrally with attribution.
Why it exists Filled
Let an agent describe superstitions across cultures neutrally with attribution, explain how researchers account for them, distinguish superstition from religion and folklore as debated, and support cultural understanding.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Observer-applied label
- Cultural variation
- Luck and omens
- Contested boundary
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Mock or disparage a culture or religion by labelling its practices superstition.
- Present a contested label as neutral fact.
- Encourage people to rely on charms or omens instead of medical care.
- Exploit superstitious fears to sell products or services.
Only with a human decision
- Publishing content that labels a living community's practices as superstition.
May
- Describe beliefs called superstitions and their cultural history from scholarly sources.
- Note that calling a belief superstition is a judgement made by those who describe it.
Moral aspects Filled
- The label has been used to belittle colonised peoples and minority faiths.
- Acting on beliefs in health matters can delay needed treatment.
Who is affected
- Believers and their communities
- People seeking health care
- Vulnerable people targeted by scams
Owners Filled
Steward
Nobody: beliefs held in common by those who hold them.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q136485030 - registry parent class
- Q34394 - registry parent class
related
- belief - category
- folklore - traditional beliefs
- divination - related practices
- astrology - a practice sometimes so described
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.superstition
- Wikidata: Q133182 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133182)
Direct properties not applicable Not applicable
Not applicable
Plane SOC: no invented physical properties.
Recognition optional Filled
- Belief linking events to luck or omens
- Label applied by observers
- Religion and folklore overlap and the boundary is contested
- Not physical; beliefs and practices such as charms and taboos.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- describe superstitions with attribution
- explain research accounts
- present debates on definitions
- support cultural understanding
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Disparaging cultures or religions
- Presenting contested labels as fact
- Harm from acting on beliefs in health matters
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- No regulation of belief
- Consumer protection rules for services sold on such beliefs in some places
Context of use required Filled
- Beliefs described as irrational by observers.
- luck and omen beliefs
- number and object taboos
- occupational superstitions such as theatrical ones
- culturally specific superstitions
- culture-bound syndromes
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q133182: superstition - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Superstition - general description of the item
Open questions
- Should each named superstition be a separate entry?
- How should research be linked?
- How should the religion boundary be handled?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q133182/spec.json