What Are People Most Afraid Of In North Carolina And South Carolina?

When Halloween creeps up on us each year, our collective sense of fear seems to heighten. It's not called "spooky season" for nothing. All the grotesque lawn decorations certainly aren't helping. However, chainsaw-wielding ghouls aside, it turns out that Americans are afraid of a wide variety of things.

Fox 5 Atlanta reports that new research commissioned by Customer Service Number looked into the most-Googled phobias in every state across the U.S. for 2023. The study gives us a glimpse into the fears that keep us up at night, especially during this time of year.

The research team examined 41 common phobias and uncovered specific searches for each. They calculated the total number of searches in each state to determine the phobia with the highest number of inquiries. For example, for the fear of heights (acrophobia), they collected keywords such as "afraid of heights," "scared of heights," "fear of heights symptoms," "I’m afraid of heights," and "acrophobia treatment."

According to the study of the most common phobias in the U.S. based on Google searches, the fear of heights is number one in five states, but it did not top the list. This year’s most-searched phobia was trypophobia, or the fear of holes, which is the most common fear in 11 states, including Georgia, Virginia, and North Carolina. It's not so much about falling into holes as it is the sight of clusters of holes. A study from 2013 indicates it may be related to an ancient survival response against poisonous animals.

Superstitions are beliefs in supernatural forces and the idea that we can influence unpredictable events. Some people hold onto these beliefs, even when they don't make logical sense. According to Manchester Metropolitan University, psychologists have studied superstitions and found that people often believe actions or objects can influence outcomes, even when there's no logical reason to think so.

They say that superstitions come from our desire to find patterns and meaning in the world. For example, when we knock on wood to avoid bad luck, we're making a connection between our actions and unrelated events. Superstitions also provide comfort and a sense of control in uncertain or stressful situations. They act like mental crutches, helping people feel more secure when life is unpredictable.

Superstitions continue to exist because they fulfill our basic human needs and behaviors, according to Newswise, a research news website. Even though they might not make sense scientifically, superstitions remain a powerful force in human behavior, showing how our beliefs and thoughts shape our actions in our quest to make sense of the mysterious world around us.

Some common superstitions can be found in many cultures. For instance, knocking on wood is thought to bring good luck or prevent bad luck. People avoid walking under ladders because it's considered unlucky. In some cultures, the number 13 is seen as unlucky, leading to the avoidance of the 13th floor. Some buildings don't have a 13th floor; they simply label the 13th floor as the 14th floor. On the other hand, some superstitions are believed to bring good fortune, like finding a four-leaf clover or carrying a horseshoe. Another common superstition involves tossing a bit of salt over your shoulder to ward off bad luck.

Interestingly, some people took to Reddit to share their unusual superstitions. Check out a few of them below.

Someone on Reddit shared this quirky belief that putting shoes on furniture is a surefire way to invite bad luck. They added, "I’m sure it started as a thing parents told their children to avoid getting the furniture dirty, but I’m still afraid to do it, just in case." But really, who would even think of putting their shoes, which have been all over town, on any piece of furniture?

Someone with a performing arts background jumped into the conversation and said they have this thing about not congratulating anyone on their performance or achievements until it's all done. They explained, "Saying 'congratulations on your big show' the day before the show opens is basically asking for like, a lighting fixture to fall on stage and kill a performer or something." They even added that saying a simple "good luck" can feel a bit iffy.

Someone mentioned that if you trim your fingernails on a Sunday, you might somehow end up turning into a thief. We're not exactly sure how this superstition got started, but there's definitely at least one person out there who's sticking to it.

Some people shared their very specific routines. One person chimed in, saying, "If my right hand itches, I must rub it on wood; scratching it with my hand will signal bad luck and I'll lose money soon." They added that they heard this old wives' tale as a kid and never really bothered to question it.

Someone in the thread shared a funeral-related superstition. They said, "When you visit a funeral, don't go home directly, go somewhere else before heading home so that the soul of that dead person won't follow you home." they wrote. They also mentioned that if you get sick after attending a funeral, it's seen as a sign that the spirit of the departed has made contact with you.