Uni psychologist: Friday the 13th superstition like new religion (From Bucks Free Press)

Bucks New University Psychologist says Friday the 13th superstition is like a new religion

2:16pm Thursday 12th January 2012 in News By Neil Phillips

Ciaran O'Keeffe

SUPERSTITIOUS beliefs surrounding the dreaded date of Friday the 13th are like a new religion for the modern age, according to a Buckinghamshire New University psychologist who once regularly appeared on a TV show about haunted houses.

Dr Ciaran O'Keeffe, associate lecturer in Psychology at the university, says 'a large proportion' of the population will be taking extra care tomorrow, afraid of the consequences of a day perceived to bring bad luck.

The specialist, who featured on television channel Living's Most Haunted for five years, says people are rejecting mainstream religion and science in favour of superstitious beliefs, like Friday the 13th.

He said: "Superstitious and paranormal beliefs could be seen as a new religion. A decline in church membership could point to the idea that people are looking elsewhere and many are looking towards superstition and paranormal belief systems.

"Some superstitions are perfectly innocent, like knocking on wood for good luck, but some people in the UK will actually be too nervous and scared to leave the house on Friday the 13th because they are so wrapped up in these types of superstitions.

"In today's day and age where we have such significant advancements in science and have a general understanding of how the world works I guess it is very strange that many people still resort to superstitious behaviour.

"Lack of knowledge about science and a feeling of uncertainty was something which led to superstitious behaviour in years and centuries gone by but this should no longer be the case."

Dr O'Keeffe is a member of the Society for Psychical Research and a senior advisor to the Ghost Club, a paranormal investigation and research organisation.

According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in North Carolina, United States, an estimated 17 to 21 million people in the US are affected by a fear of Friday the 13th.