Episode 36: Beyond Logic: Magical Thinking and How It Affects Us

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, April reveals that her husband is a rain god. Well, he's not, but he thinks he is. She discusses this uniquely human thing we do called magical thinking.Episode 36 Show Notes (oooh, so many sources!)Good basic explanation of magical thinking:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/magical-thinkingWait, here's another one:https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/magical-thinkingHow is magical thinking a cognitive distortion? https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/mental-health/magical-thinking-effects-cognitive-distortionAmanda Montell's awesome book:https://www.amazon.com/Age-Magical-Overthinking-Modern-Irrationality/dp/1668007975Scientific American articles on the topic:https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-come-some-people-believe-in-the-paranormal/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-can-you-fight-conspiracy-theories/Do dead people pinch us while we sleep? Probably not:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/theory-and-praxis/202310/the-benefits-and-consequences-of-magical-thinkingHealthline's article:https://www.healthline.com/health/magical-thinking#:~:text=Magical%20thinking%20involves%20the%20belief%20that%20you%20can,something%20that%20has%20no%20bearing%20on%20the%20circumstances.Matthew Hutson and the positive side of magical thinking:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12933497-the-7-laws-of-magical-thinkingHow magical thinking and OCD are connected:https://www.verywellhealth.com/magical-thinking-ocd-5220558Salon.com articles on the topic:https://www.salon.com/2018/09/10/a-neuroscientist-explains-how-religious-fundamentalism-hijacks-the-brain_partner/https://www.salon.com/2024/04/09/from-conspiracy-theories-to-manifesting-how-to-navigate-the-age-of-magical-overthinking/How to Talk to Conspiracy Theorists:https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-pseudoscience/zen-and-art-talking-conspiracy-theoristsInterview with Eric Oliver:https://news.uchicago.edu/podcasts/big-brains/science-conspiracy-theories-and-political-polarization-eric-oliverMick West is awesome. Links for his book and his webpage, Metabunk:https://www.amazon.com/Escaping-Rabbit-Hole-Conspiracy-Theories-ebook/dp/B077YS5G2N