Have you ever noticed that many buildings skip the 13th floor, or that some people get uneasy when Friday falls on the 13th? This aversion to the number 13 is widespread, with millions around the globe sharing this peculiar superstition. In fact, in the United States alone, a significant percentage of people admit to being bothered by staying on the 13th floor of a hotel. But Why Is The Number 13 Considered Unlucky? Let’s delve into the murky origins and explore the social and psychological factors that have cemented this number’s ominous reputation.
The fear of the number 13, known as “triskaidekaphobia,” is deeply ingrained in Western culture, but its roots are surprisingly unclear and speculative. One of the most straightforward explanations lies in its relationship to the number 12, which is often associated with completeness and perfection. Think of the twelve months of the year, the twelve signs of the zodiac, or the twelve apostles of Jesus. In contrast, 13 is seen as an awkward extension, a step beyond this perceived completeness, disrupting the harmonious balance of 12. Joe Nickell, a paranormal investigator, highlights this contrast, suggesting that 13’s unlucky reputation may simply stem from its position as the number that follows the “complete” dozen.
Furthermore, historical and mythological narratives have inadvertently contributed to the number 13’s negative image. In Norse mythology, legend has it that Loki was the 13th guest to arrive at a banquet in Valhalla. His unwelcome appearance led to chaos and tragedy, as he tricked another guest into killing the beloved god Baldur. Similarly, in Christian tradition, Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, is considered the 13th guest at the Last Supper. These stories, while not definitive origins, have likely played a role in associating 13 with misfortune and treachery in the cultural consciousness.
However, it’s crucial to recognize that the association of bad luck with any number is ultimately a sociocultural construct. Superstitions, like rumors, can take root and spread rapidly within a society, snowballing into widely accepted beliefs over time. While 13 carries this negative connotation in many Western countries, other cultures have their own unlucky numbers. In Japan, for example, the number 9 is avoided due to its phonetic similarity to the word for “suffering.” Italy shuns the number 17, while in China, 4 is considered unlucky as it sounds like the word for “death.” Interestingly, the number 666, often linked to the “beast” in Christianity, is actually seen as lucky in China. This diversity across cultures underscores the arbitrary nature of these numerical superstitions.
Beyond historical and cultural influences, psychological factors also contribute to the persistence of triskaidekaphobia. One aspect is the human tendency to favor the familiar. In psychology, this is sometimes referred to as a “felt sense of anomaly.” The number 13 is statistically less common in everyday life compared to 12. There isn’t a 13th month, a 13-inch ruler is unusual, and we don’t typically refer to 13 o’clock. This relative unfamiliarity can subconsciously lead to a sense of unease or negativity towards the number. Psychological research indicates that we naturally gravitate towards what feels familiar and tend to be wary of the unfamiliar, making it easier to associate negative attributes with 13 simply due to its perceived strangeness.
Another psychological mechanism at play is confirmation bias and the tendency to perceive patterns even where none exist. This is similar to the debunked belief in “full moon effects,” where people mistakenly attribute events to lunar cycles. When something negative happens on the 13th of the month, or especially on Friday the 13th, it tends to be more memorable and reinforces pre-existing superstitions. People are more likely to recall and emphasize instances that confirm their beliefs, while overlooking or rationalizing away contradictory evidence. This selective memory strengthens the perceived link between 13 and bad luck, making the superstition self-perpetuating.
Social influence plays a powerful role in the dissemination and maintenance of superstitions. The fear of 13 can be seen as a cultural “meme,” in the original sense of the word coined by Richard Dawkins. A meme is a unit of cultural information that spreads from person to person, much like a gene propagates biologically. The idea that 13 is unlucky is a simple meme that resonates with people due to the aforementioned historical, cultural, and psychological reasons. Once this meme takes hold within a social group, it spreads through communication and imitation, becoming a shared piece of “pseudo-knowledge.” Interestingly, adhering to such superstitions, like avoiding the 13th floor, can provide a sense of control over perceived negative outcomes, even if that control is illusory.
The impact of the superstition surrounding 13 is evident in various aspects of modern life. Organizations, even those grounded in science and technology, sometimes cater to this widespread belief. NASA, for instance, notably skipped numbering the 13th space shuttle mission as STS-13, opting instead for STS-41-G, possibly influenced by the near-disaster of Apollo 13. Similarly, Brussels Airlines, after receiving complaints, famously added a 14th dot to their logo, which initially featured 13 dots. Many airlines also omit row 13 in their aircraft seating arrangements.
While seemingly harmless, the pervasive nature of superstitions like triskaidekaphobia highlights the broader issue of false beliefs and their potential consequences. As seen with health frauds and other forms of misinformation, clinging to unfounded beliefs can be detrimental. It is arguably more beneficial for influential entities to promote critical thinking and rationality rather than inadvertently legitimizing baseless superstitions by accommodating them. Understanding the origins and psychological underpinnings of why the number 13 is considered unlucky allows us to see this phenomenon for what it is: a fascinating example of how cultural narratives and cognitive biases can shape collective beliefs and behaviors, even in the absence of any logical foundation.
