Abstract
This study investigated how observing the ritualisation of objects can influence children’s
encoding and defence of supernatural beliefs. Specifically, we investigated if ritualising objects leads
children to believe those objects might be magical, buffering against favouring contrary evidence.
Seventy-nine children, aged between 3 and 6 years, were presented with two identical objects
(e.g., two colour-changing stress balls) and tasked with identifying which was magical after being
informed that one had special properties (e.g., could make wishes come true). In a Ritual condition,
an adult acted on one of the objects using causally irrelevant actions and on the other using functional
actions. In an Instrumental condition, both objects were acted on with functional actions. The children
were given a normative rule relating to the use of the objects and an opportunity to imitate the actions
performed on them. A second adult then challenged their magical belief. Ritualistic actions increased
the likelihood of children attributing magical powers to the associated object but did not affect
resistance to change or adherence to normative rules. However, children who engaged in ritual
actions protested more when the magical belief was challenged. Our findings suggest that rituals can
play an important role in shaping children’s perception and defence of supernatural beliefs.