Childhood myths and magical thinking in the 1970s and 1980s

Many children growing up in the 1970s and 1980s engaged in rituals driven by magical thinking, a psychological stage where active imaginations lead individuals to believe certain actions can influence the world.

Common examples included making wishes when seeing specific times on a clock, such as 11:11, or performing physical actions like holding one's breath or lifting feet to achieve a desired outcome. During the 1980s, popular culture and the Satanic Panic also contributed to various urban legends and myths regarding music and band names.