magical thinking

English

Noun

magical thinking (uncountable)

1. The attribution of causal or synchronistic relationships between thoughts and actions and events which seemingly cannot be justified by reason and observation.
   • 1920, Carveth Read, The Origin of Man and of his Superstitions‎^[1]:

     But, at first, by mere magical thinking […] Omens are gradually separated from ordinary probable signs […] as necessary infallible signs (or tendencies) if cunning can find them out, connected by some supernatural law with the unknown future that certainly awaits us, and as a kind of Magic.

   • 2017 August 25, Jennifer Rankin, “UK accused of 'magical thinking' over Brexit plan for Irish border”, in The Guardian‎^[2]:

     “What we see in the UK paper is a lot of magical thinking about how an invisible border would work in the future,” said the senior EU official, giving the most detailed response yet from Brussels on the recent series of papers that emerged from Whitehall.

   • 2018, Alex Turner (lyrics and music), “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino”, performed by Arctic Monkeys:

     This magical thinking feels as if it really might catch on / Mama wants some answers / Do you remember where it all went wrong?

   • 2023 January 17, Tina Brown, “Spare by Prince Harry review – magical thinking in Montecito”, in The Guardian‎^[3]:

     What Harry does not realise, however, is that his magical thinking about Diana’s “disappearance” extends to multiple other aspects of his life.

Translations

Translations

• Spanish: pensamiento mágico m

Further reading

• magical thinking on Wikipedia.Wikipedia