Superstitions and illusions of control: experimental contributions to the discussion in Psychopathology

Abstract

Superstitious behaviors are classically understood as responses maintained by re­inforcers whose occurrence is independent of the individual’s agency. In parallel, illusions of control refer to beliefs about a control over the world that, in reality, does not exist. Both phenomena, in particular, have conceptual and procedural similarities, often evidenced in experimental research. Over the years, experimental research on such phenomena has slipped into the field of Psychopathology, when discussing certain symptoms and disorders. However, the behavior-analytic literature lacks an objective discussion on the contributions of such ex­perimental research to the field of Psychopathology. In view of this, the present essay aimed to identify possible experimental contributions to Psychopathology by relating experimental evidence on superstitious behaviors and illusions of control to psychopathological conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder and gambling disorder. The contributions identified include (1) the elucidation of certain behavioral processes involved in psychopathological symptoms, (2) the understanding of some processes of clinical change promoted by psychotherapeutic interventions, and (3) the experimental validation of cer­tain clinical interventions for these disorders. Finally, the need for continued experimental research is emphasized with a view to deepening the understanding of psychopathological phenomena and improving the care provided to individuals.