Superstitions, Pigeons and Behavioural Psychology

The Birth of Behavioural Psychology

Did you think Ivan Pavlov’s experiment with some dogs, a steak and an auditory anchor (or tuning fork) was interesting?  Indeed, if the answer is yes, you might be curious to learn that another Behavioural Psychologist, B. F. Skinner studied the laws of behaviour using pigeons.  In fact, Skinner thought superstitions, pigeons and behavioural psychology were intrinsically linked!

Specifically, he placed pigeons in a special cage with an electrically-activated food tray, and a lever the pigeons could peck.  Hence, when they pecked, they got food.

What Drives Superstition?

Psychologically speaking, superstitious behaviour results from the mistaken belief that a specific activity, causes a positive result.  Specifically, if we engage in an activity that is followed by positive reinforcement, we believe the activity is the CAUSE of that positive reinforcement.

Really, it’s a confusion between correlation and causality.  In fact, as humans, we are often unable to observe a difference between success that happens as a result of our behaviour and success that happens in spite of our behaviour.

Actually, you may or may not be surprised to learn that the higher we climb in our careers, the more open we are superstitious to the risk of superstitious behaviour!

Indeed, learning how to make the distinction between correlation and causality allows us to step away from superstitious behaviour and towards more consistent results.

The Pigeon Experiment & Conditioning

So, what about these pigeons then?  Well B.F. Skinner trained his pigeons to peck the level connected to the food tray as he needed to “reinforce” successive approximations of the lever-pecking behaviour. Food is a good behavioural reinforcer when the pigeons are hungry, and yet less so when their bellies are full.

Actually, the sound of the food tray opening became a “secondary” reinforcer due to its association with the availability of the “primary” reinforcer.  Specifically, the food.

Hence, what Skinner decided to to leave individually caged pigeons overnight, during which time their food trays would click open every few minutes, making food available for a few seconds each time.

The Outcome

By morning Skinner observed that every pigeon was engaging in some sort of ritualistic behaviour or dance. Each pigeon’s behaviour was unique and yet repetitive. The explanation given for this “superstitious” behaviour was “the reinforcing sound of the food tray opening strengthened whatever behaviour the pigeon was engaged in at the time.:  Consequently, the pigeons felt more inclined to repeat that behaviour every time the food tray opens.

Therefore, even though the pigeons’ behaviour was unrelated to the opening of the food tray (it opened according to an external timer), the pigeons believed their behaviour delivered them more food.

Conclusions About Superstitions, Pigeons and Behavioural Psychology

Skinner’s experiment helps us understand how human superstitions and myths maintain their longevity. Seemingly, in addition to many useful and survival-enhancing behavioural patterns, we also learn useless and sometimes unhelpful patterns.  In fact, we do this by confusing correlation with causality.

If truth be told, we could categorise faith in any of our beliefs as superstitious behaviour in this context.  However, I am curious to consider my own superstitious behaviour.  Moreover, I’d like to identifywhat behaviour I engage in, which has no relationship with outcome.  Honestly, it’s clear to me that limiting beliefs generate superstitious behaviour.

What superstitious behaviour do you engage in, I wonder?

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