The Human Need for Control
One of the strongest drivers of human behavior is the need to feel in control, especially in situations where we are physically vulnerable. Sleep is one of those moments. When we lie in bed, our awareness fades, our defenses drop, and the brain becomes more sensitive to uncertainty.
When people place foil under the bed, they are performing a small action that gives them a sense of control over the unknown. Even if the threat is imaginary, the brain responds positively to the idea that something has been done to protect the body.
Psychologists call this compensatory control—when people use rituals, habits, or symbolic actions to regain a feeling of stability in an unpredictable world.
The Power of Ritual
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