Deep into a period of procrastination – the development edit of the seventeenth century witch trial work-in-progress being totally stalled – I’ve wandered into a research rabbit hole, exploring sources of irrational beliefs.
In one particularly persuasive study, the beliefs in question are White supremacist conspiracies, but the process behind their formation seems applicable to C17th witchcraft beliefs and, no doubt, other examples of human irrationality as well.
The gist of the study, referenced below, is this: irrational beliefs based on childhood or emotional experiences feel intuitively, even viscerally true. They are later reinforced and directed by social group’s norms without us needing to think much about it.
Or, as the researchers put it: “Historically, explanations of why racist beliefs form primarily focus on social and group influences; however, our analytic model suggests that racist beliefs are also shaped by intuitive processes ... associated with physical sensations and through negative emotions such as anger and fear ... A resurgence of [the same] emotion or certain sounds and smells can rekindle an intuitive belief that formed early in a person’s life without much deliberative thought.”
This unthinking feedback mechanism “allows individuals who have limited knowledge and direct exposure to formalised racist ideology to develop highly racist judgements.”
The researchers also found that shared emotion generated in informal settings like music venues fostered group ideas about “who belongs and is ‘good’ and who does not belong and is ‘bad’.”
In other words, feelings of belonging go hand-in-hand with irrational beliefs about an imagined ‘other’.
Substitute racist beliefs with witchcraft belief, and all this dovetails [perhaps too neatly] with my protagonist’s character arc.
In the story, my protagonist’s belief that witches exist and harm others through their diabolical powers is formed during his childhood education and later legal training. This belief is at first reinforced by his experience of a mass witch trial, but then challenged by the weakness of the evidence against the accused.
Not only does the White supremacist research suggest a socio-psychological mechanism that would explain his irrational fear of witches, it also demonstrates how hard it would be for him to reject lawful, orthodox group think about their demonic powers regardless of his rational thought processes.
I have been hoping that by grounding my story more firmly in research such as this, I might be able to identify and overcome whatever unconscious hang-up is stalling the development edit. Writing this blog has, instead, highlighted my own uncertain relationship with the rational.
To explain.
Last time I blogged here in May (sorry I missed June; it was a complicated month) I repeated an idea that has been a well-spring of the WIP from the start. Witchcraft beliefs, I said, are ‘preposterous to our modern mind’. I was in a bad mood and should have known better, because to be honest, I’m not that sure C17th witchcraft beliefs were qualitatively more preposterous than some of today’s terrifying conspiracy theories.
Take the example of vaccines. The science behind vaccination is solid and their life-saving properties proven over centuries. Yet here we are, with mass measles outbreaks in the USA and in England.
Were there another Covid-style pandemic with anti-vaxxers in power, is it crazy to think that could lead to more unnecessary deaths than the tens of thousands executed during the witch crazes of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?
Academic studies which suggest anti-vaccination beliefs are likely to be deep-rooted and socially reinforced should make us rationalist more understanding of their position: yes, science saves lives, but people have to believe that before they buy into the idea of vaccinating their kids.
Rationally, I accept that my ‘belief’ in vaccines rests upon an upbringing in a liberal country, without family pressure to conform to any religion or cult, and with training and life experience that reinforced the value I place on scientific method. People with different experiences are bound to have different beliefs to mine.
Emotionally, however, deep in my maternal core, I am horrified that parents refuse to vaccinate their children when it can save their lives or stop them suffering pain or life-long disabilities.
How could they?
Moreover, I find it hard to believe that any amount of academic research will shake this subjective judgment on them. With something as viscerally important as a child’s health and wellbeing, emotional truth trumps knowledge, even if I fight it.
Broomsticks at midnight, anyone?
Study reference:
Latif, M., Simi, P., Blee, K., & DeMichele,
M. (2023). Intuitive pathways into racist beliefs. Emotions and
Society, 5(3), 348-365. Retrieved Jul 19, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1332/263169021X16841228834058
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