Q: My 4-year-old is absolutely convinced that if she squeezes her eyes shut and wishes something out loud that it will happen. Is this something to worry about?

A: Magical thinking is when someone thinks their thoughts, actions, a “lucky” object or a wish can influence what happens in the real world. Specifically, a magical thinker may believe that they can influence an outcome even though there is no plausible causative connection to support this. Magical thinking diverges from science, although people exhibiting magical thinking may persist in their beliefs even when facts and experience are contradictory. In the workplace it is often said that wishful thinking and hope is not a valid strategy or game plan.

Magical thinking is not the same thing as faith, where someone may have beliefs which cannot be proven. However, most religious beliefs do not directly contradict the laws of nature, known facts or reproducible experience.

Developmental psychologist Jean Piaget was the first to document the concept of magical thinking in children as a normal part of their development. For toddlers magical thinking often comes up in pretend play, and is a way for them to practice social skills, use their imagination, learn about how other people think and interact with other toddlers. Some examples of magical thinking for children include believing in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy, or believing they themselves are magic.

As kids learn about cause and effect and how to think logically, their magical thinking fades. By age 8 to 12 kids usually have enough knowledge and experience to know magical thinking is pretend, and reality-based thinking begins to dominate.

This is not to say that magical thinking “type” behaviors don’t persist into the adult years. For example, some older kids and even adults continue to be superstitious and/or quote old wives’ tales. We have all seen sports figures go through certain rituals before their turn at bat, before taking a foul shot, etc. There are also fans who wear their lucky socks or perform other behaviors to root for their team. Some students use their lucky pencil for important tests or carry a lucky charm (for example a rabbit’s foot). Sometimes society echoes these superstitions, for example some buildings skip the 13th floor because of concern that some people will think that floor is unlucky.

These kinds of behaviors are usually not problematic and may even have some benefit by increasing the person’s confidence, reducing anxiety, increasing comfort, giving someone a more optimistic attitude and even allowing someone to set their goals higher.

However, in some adults magical thinking may be a symptom of certain psychiatric disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia or other delusional and/or personality disorders (for example paranoia or narcissistic disorder). These patients may have rapid (and even violent) mood swings, grandiose thoughts (for example thinking they are the chosen one from the Bible), believe in “alternative facts” (disassociating from reality), completely believe whatever the last person they spoke with tells them (regardless of whether science or experiential outcomes contradict what they were told) and/or engage in unfounded conspiracy theories. For some of these patients their magical thinking may have negative effects on their daily lives, and if they are in a position of authority it may have negative effects on the lives of others.

In these cases, magical thinking may be problematic or even dangerous. Consider someone who convinces themselves or others that a toxic chemical might cure their disease, or conversely who refuses an effective and proven treatment thinking it is toxic. Ignoring reality-based thinking might also cause a leader to miss an opportunity to avoid a bad situation or make bad choices, putting those they are responsible for in jeopardy. For example, certain cult leaders have convinced their followers to believe in their magical thinking, and there are many examples of disastrous outcomes from this.

If you or some adult you know is exhibiting magical thinking, seeing a therapist is beneficial to identify any underlying psychiatric illness and to begin appropriate therapy.
