The Need To Know The Unknown

Why are people so eager to embrace myths, even if there is not a shred of evidence to support them? Why are so many so eager to believe the unbelievable? Two reliable sources below compare and contrast why our world desires to know the unknown.

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According to an article from PsychCentral, the reasoning behind why people believe in myths is because of something called “illusory correlation”. The article “Why We Believe Medical Myths” explains the role of illusory correlation, “Once we believe something, whether it’s true or myth, we begin to see confirmation in the world around us” (James Alcock). In other words, people make connections between particular events that line up with what they believe about the world. Alock did a brilliant experiment with his students a while back. He told them that, “Redheads are erratic drivers and to watch out on the road for them”. Sure enough, his students came back reporting all kinds of stories of crazy redhead drivers on the road.

In contrast, an article from ELI5 describes the reasoning behind why people believe in myths as it acts as a survival mechanism. A user on the website, Exsequorto, discusses the question of why people believe in myths and legends, “We’re frightened of the unknown, the unexplained and the unpredictable..Stay with what’s known, stick with the pack, stay safe in the circle of firelight”. Basically they are suggesting that by giving these myths and legends names and stories, it makes the unknowable similar to us, safe and understandable. For example, if we see a glimpse of an unknown object in the sky, it is easier for us to say “I saw a UFO but nobody believes me” rather than saying “I saw something but I can’t explain it”. Exsequorto claims, “It’s easier to go UFO-hunting than to go hunting for something you can’t explain”.

Both of these articles view the reasoning behind society’s belief in myths and legends differently. PyschCentral describes it as illusory correlation whereas ELI5 describes it as a survival mechanism. Both databases share the common belief that our fascination for myths and legends come from what we already know and are familiar with; the reason we believe so strongly in certain myths comes from what we’re familiar with according to both of these articles. Although both articles can relate to where our beliefs come from overall, each one has a little different view on the specific reasoning that triggers it. PyschCentral claims it as being confirmation to what we are familiar with; we make connections between particular events that line up with what we believe about the world. In contrast, ELI5 claims the reason we believe in myths and legends as it  makes the unknowable similar to us; it is a way of making the world seem more familiar in order to make it safe.

Questions:
1. Once a myth is proven untrue, how do people react?
2. Do the people that doubt these myths and legends have reasoning as to why they don't believe in them?