What does it mean to avoid some numbers, according to psychology

What does it mean to avoid some numbers, according to psychology

September 5, 2025 – 13:30

There are people who avoid certain words or numbers for personal beliefs. According to psychology, this reveals something important.

Everyday life gives a lot of analysis material to modern psychology. Every action, habit, choice or decision keeps meaning Maybe unthinkable by other people. This science reveals the true reason why some people Avoid some words or numbers for the negative charge they have.

This is usually told superstitionwhich means that a person believes that an action, object, concept or specific circumstance bring Magic negative or positive consequences. This also applies to words or numbers that bring bad luck or are associated with negative things, may vary according to culture in which you live.

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Why are there people who avoid mentioning some numbers?

Psychology experts argue that Avoiding specific words or numbers can have a direct relationship with anxiety and with the need to anticipate the facts. This behavior appears when these elements are associated with unpleasant emotions or Traumatic memories. Thus, for example, if a person went through an unfortunate event on a particular date, it is most likely to avoid that number to not face the emotional impact that the memory brings.

A Researcher at Kansas State University, Donald SaucierHe explained that superstitious behaviors represent a way of dealing with the uncertainty of life. In this sense, Superstitions help people feel less defenselessbecause they give them a false sense of control against chaotic events that may arise.

On the other hand, it can also be linked to mental conditions such as Compulsive Obsessive Disorder (TOC). This is the case of the numerological obsession, also called Aritmomaniawhich focuses on concrete numbers that generate significant discomfort, whether insulated digits or certain groups. In other cases, it can be a Specific phobia that leads the person to avoid complex or long words (sesquipedalophobia or hypopotomoStaresesquipedaliofobia) or certain numbers such as 666 (hexakosioihexekontahexafobia).

Another explanation is a Defense mechanism known as suppression: The person consciously tries not to think of a stimulus that is distressing. However, that effort can cause a rebound effect, causing thought to become stronger and more recurring.

In other contexts, the phenomenon is due to cultural tradition. The case of number 13 It is emblematic: it feeds up Historical stories and social beliefs that cataloged him as a symbol of bad luck. Even modern institutions such as airlines and hotels eliminate the number 13 of rows or floors, reinforcing that collective perception.

In Asian culture something similar happens with The number 4since its pronunciation in Japanese and Mandarin is very similar to the word “death”. This leads to many people to avoid buying departments, phones or car registration that include this digit. The phenomenon is known as Tetraphobia and is very widespread in countries such as China, Japan and Korea.

Either for anxiety, superstition, psychological disorders or cultural traditions, the avoidance of certain words or numbers shows how The symbolic can condition our decisions and routines Much more than we imagine.

Source: Ambito

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