Confirmation bias is a big reason why people retain superstitious or unscientific beliefs.
I did a further Google search and here are the results:
People hold unscientific beliefs, even in the absence of evidence, due to a combination of psychological, social, and cultural factors
Here are some reasons:
- Psychological Factors:
- People tend to stick to their initial beliefs and favor information that confirms them, which makes it hard to accept contradictory evidence.
- There is a tendency to overestimate our understanding of complex issues and prefer simple explanations, even if inaccurate.
- Holding strong beliefs can reduce anxiety caused by uncertainty.
- People may rationalize information to align with their identities, accepting what supports their views and rejecting what doesn't.
- Social and Cultural Influences:
- Beliefs are often based on intuition, trust, personal experience, or trust in others, which can lead to false beliefs if trust is misplaced.
- Social environment, including family and culture, shapes beliefs, and people may adopt beliefs to fit in.
- Exposure to false information, both intentional and unintentional, contributes to unscientific beliefs.
- Information that evokes strong emotions is more likely to be believed and shared.
- Lack of Critical Thinking Skills:
- Difficulty in evaluating information and comparing it with existing knowledge makes people susceptible to plausible misinformation.
- Low analytical reasoning and numeracy skills can also increase susceptibility to misinformation.
- Pseudoscience and Misinformation:
- Pseudoscience, which presents itself as scientific but lacks a scientific basis, can deceive individuals.
- Social media can facilitate the rapid spread of misinformation and pseudoscience.
Ultimately, human cognitive tendencies towards narratives, emotions, and social connection can sometimes override the ability to objectively evaluate information and evidence.
) That's like saying sex isn't necessary! 
