Compulsivity and superstitiousness

doi:10.1016/0005-7967(93)90101-Y

Behaviour Research and Therapy

Volume 31, Issue 4, May 1993, Pages 423-425

https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(93)90101-Y Get rights and content

Abstract

The relationship between superstitious beliefs and behaviors, and measures of obsessive-compulsive experiences was examined in this study. Both superstitious beliefs and superstitious behaviors were correlated with measures of compulsivity and obsessionality. Compulsive checking, but not compulsive cleaning (from the MOCI and the CAC-R) were correlated with superstitiousness. Both subscales from the Obsessional Thoughts Questionnaire were correlated with superstitiousness. The implications of these findings for the role of perceived control in obsessive-compulsive phenomena were discussed.

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In obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), actions persist despite being inappropriate to the situation and without relationship to the overall goal. Dysfunctional beliefs have traditionally been postulated to underlie this condition. More recently, OCD has been characterized in terms of an imbalance between the goal-directed and the habit systems. To test these competing hypotheses, we used a novel experimental task designed to test subjective action-outcome knowledge of the effectiveness of actions (i.e., instrumental contingency), together with the balance between goal-directed and habitual responding.
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These findings indicate reduced sensitivity to instrumental contingency in OCD, reinforcing the notion of a deficient goal-directed system in this disorder. By showing a dissociation between subjectively reported action-outcome knowledge and behavior, the data provide experimental evidence for the ego-dystonic nature of OCD.
Magical thinking and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in Australia and Iceland: A cross-cultural comparison
2012, Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
Citation Excerpt :
The Lbel consists of 30 items, scored on a 5-point Likert scale, concerning a variety of superstitious beliefs. The measure was generated from a semi-structured interview on superstitiousness and has particularly strong internal consistency of .95 (Frost et al., 1993). Lucky Behaviours Questionnaire (Lbeh; Frost et al., 1993).
A unique relationship between obsessive–compulsive symptoms and magical thinking has previously been discovered in both Australian undergraduate samples and a clinical sample. The aim of this paper is to explore the cultural dependency of this relationship. Icelandic culture was selected due to evidence of an elevated belief in telepathy and the paranormal. An Icelandic undergraduate sample was gender and age matched to an Australian sample from the Einstein and Menzies study (2004b). Results indicate that the Icelandic sample had significantly higher magical thinking, superstitious thinking, obsessive–compulsive symptoms, but was not significantly different for superstitious behaviour and the TAF-Likelihood questionnaires. In a forced simultaneous regression with obsessive–compulsive symptoms as the dependent variable, only two subscales of the DASS, stress and anxiety, as well as magical thinking continued to be correlated with obsessive–compulsive symptoms. In conclusion, magical thinking is a core construct in obsessive–compulsive symptomatology, and this relationship appears to cross cultural boundaries. In particular, a sample of Icelanders with higher levels of magical thinking also demonstrated higher levels of obsessive–compulsive symptoms.
Psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-44)
2012, Journal of Anxiety Disorders
The present study was designed to assess the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-44) in 104 patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. The secondary objective was to ascertain whether a decline in OBQ-44 scores occurs after cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT). Factor analysis identified three dysfunctional belief domains from the original scale. Internal consistency and reproducibility were very good and good, respectively. Sensitivity to treatment change (cognitive-behavioral group therapy) was good, and pre–post intervention standardized effect sizes (Cohen's d) were strong. The OBQ-44 plays an important role in this setting; as a user-friendly, self-administered instrument that lists the most common dysfunctional beliefs of OCD patients, it enables healthcare providers to assess whether their patients’ beliefs change after treatment.
The role of magical thinking in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder symptoms and cognitions in an analogue sample
2011, Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
Citation Excerpt :
Accordingly, magical thinking seem to function both to increase the sense of threat as an input and to regain control and give a reaction to threat by engaging in neutralizing behavior (Bocci & Gordon, 2007). Similarly, empirical research has confirmed the impact of magical beliefs in OCD (e.g., Einstein & Menzies, 2004; Sica, Novaro, & Sanavio, 2002), while the biased reasoning style shown specifically stronger relationships with checking symptoms and obsessions (Frost et al., 1993; Zebb & Moore, 2003). Einstein and Menzies (2008) even indicated that following cognitive-behavioral treatment, an improvement may be seen in OCD symptoms and magical thinking.
In addition to clinical observations exemplifying biased reasoning styles (e.g., overemphasis of thoughts) and particular ritualistic behaviors, it is also empirically supported that magical beliefs are also associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms and some cognitions. It should be noted, however, that most empirical studies have been carried out on the samples from Western cultures, even though these beliefs were culturally determined. Thus, more research is needed in order to understand their roles in the OCD symptoms in different cultural contexts. The present study aimed to examine the impact of magical beliefs in OCD symptoms, cognitions and thought control in a non-Western analogue sample from Turkey.
The measures of paranormal beliefs, fusion of thoughts-actions, obsessive beliefs, strategies of thought control and OCD symptoms were administered to an undergraduate sample.
Consistent with findings in the literature, the analyses of group comparisons, correlation and regression showed that even after controlling general negative affect, magical beliefs were still associated with OCD symptoms, some beliefs and control strategies, namely the symptoms of obsessional thoughts and checking, fusions of thoughts and actions in likelihood, faulty beliefs in perfectionism-certainty and punishment.
Some methodological concerns such as cross-sectional nature, inclusion of only non-clinical sample were major restrictions of the present study.
Evidence that magical thinking is a critical factor in the OCD is supported once more in a different cultural context.
Culture and obsessive-compulsive disorder
2006, Psychiatry
Citation Excerpt :
Only a few studies have investigated links between OCD and superstitions. In a questionnaire study, Frost et al. found that measures of superstition were correlated with overall compulsiveness, compulsive checking, perfectionism and responsibility.15 They were not, however, correlated with compulsive cleaning/washing.
Anxiety disorders and control related beliefs: the exemplar of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
2006, Clinical Psychology Review
Beliefs about control have been postulated to be important to anxiety and mood disorders. In particular, the phenomenology of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD) suggests that it may be an exemplar of an anxiety disorder where control issues related to the self (behavior and thoughts) and world (the external environment) are particularly important. However, only beliefs concerning the need to control thoughts have been incorporated into contemporary theories of OCD. This article summarizes the theoretical and empirical research relevant to control-related beliefs in OCD. It is suggested that discrepancies between an individual's desired level of control and their perceived level of control could contribute to OCD symptoms, and exacerbate the tendency for individuals with OCD to engage in magical ideation and superstitious rituals. Overall, this review demonstrates how consideration of control cognitions could enhance our understanding of OCD and further improve its treatment.

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Compulsivity and superstitiousness

Abstract

Behaviour Research and Therapy

Behaviour Research and Therapy

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Behaviour Research and Therapy

Behaviour Research and Therapy

Preliminary study of an obsessive thoughts checklist: validation and factorial analysis

Obsessive acts and religious practices

The dimensions of perfectionism

Cognitive Therapy and Research

The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale: development, use, and reliability

Archives of General Psychiatry

The Psychology of superstition