Friday the 13th silly superstition

By Michael Watanabe
Daily Forty-Niner

Friday the 13th is a day that brings about connotations of Jason, bad luck and many other spooky and creepy things.

However, psychologists agree that these superstitions are both mysterious and unfounded.

"It's shrouded in mystery," said Cal State Long Beach psychology professor Robert Kapche. But, he had once read that the number '13' may have come from 13 people being at the Last Supper.

Dale Jorgenson, another psychology professor, said he does not know of any evidence to support the ambience of Friday the 13th. He said he believes that they are superstitions, which are our attempt to control the events that happen in our lives.

"We wish to have some control over these things," Jorgenson said. "If it's as simple as avoiding the number 13, all the better."

However, some people afraid of the number 13 may have a clinical problem.   The American Psychology Association has scientifically recognized the fear of the number 13 as a psychological disorder.

At the mention of this year's Friday the 13th, Javier Rios, a junior majoring in construction engineering, thinks of Halloween and the stories his parents would tell him and his cousins.

Joregenson acknowledges that associating the day with Halloween, like Rios has, is a common idea.

"It just so happens [Friday the 13th] got attached to October," Jorgenson said, which seems to have amplified the phenomena even more.

However, it doesn't seem to be bothering other students.

"If I were superstitious about it, I wouldn't be getting on a plane to Germany," said Jon Williamson, a graduate sociology student.

Senior political science major, Patrice Lawson, agreed.

"I think other people make too much of a big deal about the 13th, and they apply scary superstitions," Lawson said.   "I don't think much of it... People say 'Oh, it's Friday the 13th, but it's just kind of another day."