The Validity Of Superstition
Throughout human history, people have clung to various beliefs that are not rooted in rational thought. The reason for these beliefs are complex and have evolved over time, and they point to certain consistent elements of the human psyche. These irrational beliefs exist in many areas of society, including the realm of popular culture. One current example of this can be seen in the case of professional tennis player, Serena Williams, and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex. Recently, Markle has been present during three important matches that Williams has lost, sparking a rhetoric among some sports fans that the former is a jinx for the esteemed athlete. While objectively false, this popular belief is gaining momentum in various press mediums is both destructive and indicative of aspects of both psychology and cultural norms. The following will examine this current trend in blaming Markle for Williams’ losses from a social and psychological perspective, highlighting the dynamics at play that make seemingly rational people believe something so outlandish.
Superstition has a long history in sports and athletics, as athletes and audiences alike often perform various rituals to ensure success. (Hanks, Zhang, & McGinley, 2016) These rituals and beliefs are often completely arbitrary, but they provide psychological comfort to participants. Superstitious behavior, “Implies a causal relationship where none exists. Various actions or events, such as encountering a black cat or breaking a mirror, are thought to cause specified outcomes, such as catastrophes or bad luck, in spite of a lack of empirical evidence for such a relationship. ” (Hanks, Zhang, & McGinley, p. 2, 2016) Not all individuals are superstitious, but studies show that this mentality can be an existing personality trait or be influenced by culture and environment. (Hanks, Zhang, & McGinley, 2016) In the case of Williams and Markle, fans noticed that Williams’ unprecedented losing streak happened to coincide with Markle’s presence, causing a mental link to be made despite no evidence. (Friel, 2019)
Williams and Markle are not the first example of such a superstitious view, but they are currently the most prominent. Williams holds the record for female tennis player who has won the most Grand Slam titles, and she is heralded as the best female player of all time. (Friel, 2019) While her career trajectory is unprecedented, it is unrealistic to continue on without an eventual decline. The fact is, Williams is getting older in a sport that requires peak physical condition; at thirty-seven years old, she is now the age of a general retiree of professional tennis. ( Okholm Kryger, Dor, Guillaume, Haida, Noirez, Montalvan, & Toussaint, 2015) Most who retire do so because their bodies simply cannot handle the immense physical stress and pressure that professional tennis creates, either due to injury or the natural aging process. While Williams is by no means old in relative terms, she is competing against people in their late teens and early-twenties. Furthermore, these younger athletes are competing for things like monetary gain and prestige, things that Williams has already amassed, showing that lack of motivation may be a potential hinderance in her current athleticism.
In addition to the rigors of the sport, Williams has recently been through a traumatic pregnancy and childbirth, which likely have affected her physicality in ways that sports audiences are not privy to. (Friel, 2019) She has also been dealing with a recurrent back injury that has made her pull out of several tournaments, sparking rumors of an imminent retirement. (Friel, 2019) Even if Williams was in peak physical condition, which is difficult for spectators to gauge with accuracy, so much of athletic success is mental. It is possible that she is experiencing a psychological roadblock preventing her from playing to her capacity, which is compounded by the extreme pressure of who she is. People expect Williams to win, and she knows that when she loses the world is watching and judging. This cannot be easy for anyone, let alone someone who has been in the spotlight for over two decades. It is possible that Williams is burned out; as a mother and a married woman, her life is considerably different than when she was single and childfree. She likely has other things that are more important to her than winning tennis, contributing to her relatively poor performance.
Even with all of these rational reasons as to why Williams has recently been losing tournaments that she previously dominated, some still falsely blame Markle’s presence as a bad luck omen. For those who are predisposed to believing in superstition, this link seems clear; as one of the most famous women in the world, Markle is prominently shown in the stands during Williams’ matches. This attention creates a false sense of causality; people see Markle and associate her with losses. Interestingly, the pitting of two women of color who are friends against each other in this irrational superstition indicates deeper social issues at play. Although much progress has been made in the realm of racial and gender equality, the fact remains that both women experience intersectional discrimination, be it over or subversive. People may not be consciously aware of these ingrained prejudices, which makes them easier to interpret as supernatural occurrences.
Instead of their friendship being heralded as an example of women supporting women, it is desecrated by misogynistic attitudes that are rooted in fantasy, contributing to a pernicious social narrative. If Markle had any negative effect on Williams’ performance, it would have likely been in the form of distraction rather than through a paranormal curse. Markle is, after all, one of the most famous women in the world, and her presence in any public arena is likely to cause commotion. However, Williams has shown throughout her career that she is capable of a steely resolve that has propelled her to the top of the tennis world regardless of who is in the audience; it is unlikely that the presence of her friend would have the power to sway this. Williams has also been in the public eye for long enough that she would not be effected by the presence of someone famous, as she herself is world-renowned. Rather, Williams is likely facing her own personal challenges, be they physical or psychological, that are preventing her from winning; any belief of a curse or jinx is not only irrational, but impossible.
Psychologically, many people believe in things like curses because it provides a source of comfort in a world where so many things are beyond one’s control. If paranormal things like curses and jinxes were to exist, then people could absolve themselves of personal responsibility for negative things that occur in their lives, creating a cognitive dissonance in which they are not in control. A belief in things like curses and jinxes places the onus of responsibility on something outside of oneself. For Williams, a hero and role model to millions, many do not want to believe that she is experiencing a natural decline, likely because it reminds them of their own mortality and limitations. Thus, they concoct an irrational narrative in which an innocent bystander takes the blame for another’s actions. This is a sign of immaturity, as such fantastical thinking points to a lack of personal growth and development.
Ultimately, Markle is not a jinx, and Williams is not a superhero. The latter is simply succumbing to the rigors of the sport, which is compounded by recent events in her life. Perhaps Williams is no longer in peak physical condition, and is being outplayed by younger, more fervent competitors. It is possible that she cannot handle the psychological elements of the game, succumbing to her own thoughts and the world’s pressure. Maybe she no longer is as passionate as she once was, which is reflected in her string of losses, or maybe it is none of these things. Although it is impossible to determine with certainty why Williams lost these matches, it can be understood that Markle being a jinx had nothing to do with it.
