New study devles into the science of luck and superstition

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/10/03/feeling-powerless-grab-your-lucky-rabbits-foot/

This study provides interesting insight into the vulnerable human psyche. It tests the correlation between uncomfortable/uncontrollable situations and a person's desire to find meaning. The studies performed showed that subjects who felt they were not in control of a situation were more likely to see patterns (visually or in certain situations) than those who were in control. The study backs the idea that people are more likely to act irrationally when they are in an uncontrollable situation.