Why People Think Celebrities Die In Threes, According To Science

The most common explanation for the belief in a trio of misfortune is that humans thrive on patterns. According to Cognition Today, patterns were a vital part of humanity’s evolution. Some patterns helped humans survive by refining their basic needs: for example, patterns helped hunters avoid enemies, track their prey, and avoid poisonous foods. Others developed as mankind became more social: for example, a crying baby meant the child was in need, while certain tones of voice corresponded with particular emotions.

However, this human function can sometimes go too far, and make people see patterns where they don’t exist in a process called apophenia. The basic idea is that if patterns were a way to help keep humans safe, patterns are particularly sought out in times of fear and sadness.

“Patterns in death, patterns in misfortune — those are things that help us try to understand the universe or reality in a way that makes sense of it,” explains John Hoopes, a professor of anthropology at the University of Kansas, who wrote about the concept in Psychology Today. “In general, we’re very uncomfortable dealing with randomness.”