My Placebo Experience

There are many times the placebo effect has been involved in my life and I believe that the most common way they have affected me is through a superstition. My parents among with many others have always told me not to think negatively or say negative things such as potentially getting into a car accident. Growing up I've always been told to "knock on wood" after saying something negative that shouldn't happen. This superstition is like the placebo effect where knocking on wood does not do anything to prevent that negative incident from happening, but it makes me feel a lot better thinking that the incident would not take place anymore.