Believing the Unbelievable

Why do we knock on wood? Walk around black cats? Believe in premonitions? Believe that rituals at home plate may bring us a home run?

Cognitive psychologist and neuroscientist Bruce Hood says it’s baked in our human nature. A pull to the supernatural. That it’s not all we are, but it’s an important, powerful piece of who we are as humans. He calls it supersense.

This hour, On Point: Why we believe the unbelievable.

You can join the conversation. Are you beyond superstition? Are you sure? Do you embrace the supernatural? Why?Guest:

Joining us in our studio is Bruce Hood, chair of developmental psychology and director of the Cognitive Development Centre at the University of Bristol in southwest England. His new book, out this week, is "SuperSense: Why We Believe in the Unbelievable."