Law of attraction (New Thought)

The law of attraction is the New Thought spiritual belief that positive or negative thoughts bring positive or negative experiences into a person's life.^[1]^[2] The belief is based on the idea that people and their thoughts are made from "pure energy" and that like energy can attract like energy, thereby allowing people to improve their health, wealth, or personal relationships. There is no empirical scientific evidence supporting the law of attraction, and it is widely considered to be pseudoscience or religion couched in scientific language. This belief has alternative names that have varied in popularity over time, including manifestation and lucky girl syndrome.

Advocates generally combine cognitive reframing techniques with affirmations and creative visualization to replace limiting or self-destructive ("negative") thoughts with more empowered, adaptive ("positive") thoughts. A key component of the philosophy is the idea that in order to effectively change one's negative thinking patterns, one must also "feel" (through creative visualization) that the desired changes have already occurred. This combination of positive thought and positive emotion is believed to allow one to attract positive experiences and opportunities by achieving resonance with the proposed energetic law.

While some supporters of the law of attraction refer to scientific theories and use them as arguments in favor of it,^[3]^[4] it has no demonstrable scientific basis.^[5] A number of scientists have criticized the misuse of scientific concepts by its proponents.^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9] Recent empirical research has shown that while individuals who indulge in manifestation and law of attraction beliefs often do exhibit higher perceived levels of success, these beliefs are also seen being associated with higher risk taking behaviors, particularly financial risks, and show a susceptibility to bankruptcy.^[10]

^ Whittaker, S. (12 May 2007). "Secret Attraction". The Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
^ Redden, Guy (1999). "Magic happens: A new age metaphysical mystery tour". Journal of Australian Studies. 23 (62). Informa UK Limited: 101–104. doi:10.1080/14443059909387505. ISSN 1444-3058.
^ Taylor, Travis S. (2010). The science behind the secret: decoding the law of attraction & the universal quantum connection. Wake Forest, NC: Baen Pub. Enterprises. ISBN 978-1-4391-3339-2. OCLC 419815471.
^ Cheung, Valen. The LOA Skeptic: How to Think Scientifically About the Law of Attraction.
^ Radford, Benjamin (3 February 2009). "The Pseudoscience of 'The Secret'". Live Science. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
^ Shermer, Michael (1 June 2007). "The (Other) Secret". Scientific American. 296 (6): 39. Bibcode:2007SciAm.296f..39S. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0607-39. PMID 17663221.
^ Stenger, Victor J. "Cosmic Mind" (PDF). University of Colorado. pp. 8–19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015.
^ Leon Lederman; Dick Teresi (1993). The God Particle: If the Universe is the Answer, What is the Question. Houghton Mifflin Company. pp. 189–198. ISBN 9780395558492.
^ Hansson, Sven Ove (26 August 2021). Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University – via Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
^ Dixon, Lucas J.; Hornsey, Matthew J.; Hartley, Nicole (8 July 2023). ""The Secret" to Success? The Psychology of Belief in Manifestation". Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. doi:10.1177/01461672231181162. ISSN 0146-1672.

[gazette-1] Whittaker, S. (12 May 2007). "Secret Attraction". The Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.

[2] Redden, Guy (1999). "Magic happens: A new age metaphysical mystery tour". Journal of Australian Studies. 23 (62). Informa UK Limited: 101–104. doi:10.1080/14443059909387505. ISSN 1444-3058.

[3] Taylor, Travis S. (2010). The science behind the secret: decoding the law of attraction & the universal quantum connection. Wake Forest, NC: Baen Pub. Enterprises. ISBN 978-1-4391-3339-2. OCLC 419815471.

[4] Cheung, Valen. The LOA Skeptic: How to Think Scientifically About the Law of Attraction.

[Live_Science-5] Radford, Benjamin (3 February 2009). "The Pseudoscience of 'The Secret'". Live Science. Retrieved 31 March 2017.

[Scientific_American-6] Shermer, Michael (1 June 2007). "The (Other) Secret". Scientific American. 296 (6): 39. Bibcode:2007SciAm.296f..39S. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0607-39. PMID 17663221.

[auto-7] Stenger, Victor J. "Cosmic Mind" (PDF). University of Colorado. pp. 8–19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015.

[Leon_Lederman_1993_189–198-8] Leon Lederman; Dick Teresi (1993). The God Particle: If the Universe is the Answer, What is the Question. Houghton Mifflin Company. pp. 189–198. ISBN 9780395558492.

[plato.stanford.edu-9] Hansson, Sven Ove (26 August 2021). Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University – via Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

[10] Dixon, Lucas J.; Hornsey, Matthew J.; Hartley, Nicole (8 July 2023). ""The Secret" to Success? The Psychology of Belief in Manifestation". Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. doi:10.1177/01461672231181162. ISSN 0146-1672.

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