DELUSIONS 8 1 



the relics of pagan observances. Such a belief in the date of the 

 nativity of the Christ is quite consistent with the beliefs of one's neigh- 

 bors and with one's education and experiences. 



Beliefs which are widespread and which may be called social beliefs, 

 even though they be false, are not technically considered to be delu- 

 sions. There are many popular beliefs of this kind which have no 

 foundation in fact. The childish beliefs that it is unlucky to walk 

 under a ladder, or to pennit a pin to remain on the street if you see it, 

 or to walk upon the cracks in the sidewalk, are examples of these. Such 

 beliefs have probably arisen in more primitive conditions of life and 

 the beliefs have been handed down from generation to generation, 

 although not always in the same specific way. It has been suggested 

 that the widespread belief regarding the harm which may ensue from 

 leaving a pin on a pathway is due to a tradition which has come from 

 the time when shoes and other protective devices for the feet were not 

 as commonly used as they are at the present time. It may also have 

 been due to the fact that these implements were expensive at one time, 

 and that it was an indication of extravagance or lack of care if such 

 objects were not picked up. Similarly, the belief in ghosts is also 

 widespread and is probably the remnant of the mysterious ideas which 

 were prevalent among primitive peoples as explanations of those things 

 which could not be understood or explained in simple terms. 



The mental association in the relation of cause and effect of two 

 occurrences because two events have at one time been encountered in a 

 temporal series is frequently met with among the uneducated. Similar 

 causal connectives are believed in by those who, although educated, 

 have not sufficient knowledge of the conditions of the phenomena with 

 which they deal. The belief that certain individuals had supernatural 

 powers or were in league with the devil was widespread among all 

 classes several hundred years ago, and many people were whipped or 

 burned because they were thought to be witches and capable of exerting 

 an evil influence on others, such as producing sickness and death. The 

 occurrence of sudden illness following certain actions of visitors was 

 responsible for some of these beliefs, although the causative connection 

 was not apparent. In these cases a certain mental " set " or attitude 

 (the general belief in the supernatural) was the determining element 

 which resulted in the individual beliefs. At the present time such 

 beliefs are found among the uneducated, and they are especially numer- 

 ous in communities which are isolated to a great extent from the rest of 

 the world. Thus, the screeching of an owl is believed by some to portend 

 coming misfortune; a dog howling at night means that some one had 

 died or is going to die; the appearance of a strange black cat in one's 

 house is a sign of approaching illness or ill luck (although in certain 

 communities it is considered lucky) ; crows foretell misfortune; etc. 



vol,. LXXXVI. — 6. 



