Why do we fear a date with no logical basis?
In short: For millions, Friday the 13th isn't just a date; it is a source of genuine physical anxiety. While there is no logical reason to fear this calendar coincidence, our brains are wired to find patterns in the chaos, turning a cultural myth into a psychological reality.
The fear of Friday the 13th is so pervasive in the United States that it is estimated between 17 and 21 million people experience it to the extent of a clinical phobia. Psychotherapist Donald Dossey coined the term paraskevidekatriaphobia to describe the paralyzing anxiety, which can manifest physically as a rapid heart rate, sweating, trembling, or rapid breathing. Some also refer to it as friggatriskaidekaphobia, combining the Norse goddess Frigg (associated with Friday) with the fear of the number 13.
The superstition's written history is relatively recent, appearing in 19th-century France. In 1834, the Marquis de Salvo published an article about a Sicilian count who killed his daughter on a Friday the 13th, claiming the day brought bad luck. That same year, a French play featured a character who claimed all his misfortunes stemmed from being born on Friday, December 13, 1813. Initial mentions imply the anxiety could stem from viewing the 13th and Fridays as separate omens, or potentially from their joint occurrence.
Modern behavioral science suggests that even non-believers can be influenced by these myths. Research by Jane Risen at the University of Chicago found that people often use the ease of imagining a bad outcome as a cue for its likelihood. When we are 'jinxed,' the bad outcome springs to mind more clearly, making it feel more true. Interestingly, performing rituals like knocking on wood can actually help manage this concern by providing a sense of order in a world of uncontrollable worries.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Why is Friday the 13th Considered Unlucky?
- Also: Why Is 13 Unlucky? | Numerology, Christianity, History, & Culture | Britannica
- Also: Why is Friday the 13th unlucky? Origins of the superstitious day
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