Law of attraction

What it is

The law of attraction is a core tenet of the New Thought movement. It proposes that individuals attract experiences based on their dominant mental state. Positive thoughts yield positive outcomes, while negative thoughts bring hardship. The theory suggests that human consciousness operates as energy. Like energies attract one another. This resonance allows people to influence their health, wealth, and relationships through focused intention.

Where it comes from

Phineas Quimby established the philosophical groundwork in the early nineteenth century. He linked mental states to physical recovery from tuberculosis. Andrew Jackson Davis first used the specific phrase in 1855. Prentice Mulford expanded it into a general principle in 1886. Later authors like Henry Wood and Ralph Waldo Trine applied it to all life aspects. The twentieth century saw best-selling books popularize the idea further.

How it is done

Practitioners use cognitive reframing to replace limiting beliefs. They employ affirmations and creative visualization daily. A key requirement is feeling the desired outcome as already present. This emotional alignment is believed to create resonance with the universe. Modern variations include writing declarative statements. Social media trends emphasize repeating mantras to signal luck.

Tools and materials

The primary tools are mental and verbal. Affirmations serve as spoken declarations of intent. Creative visualization involves imagining scenes in detail. Writing lists of desires is common. Some followers direct requests to the universe. No physical objects or rituals are strictly required for the practice itself.

What it is for

People use this belief to improve health and financial status. It aims to attract love and personal success. Followers seek control over their circumstances. It offers a sense of agency during uncertain times. Critics note it can encourage high-risk financial behavior. It may also lead to self-blame when goals remain unmet.

Who does it

Anyone interested in self-improvement can practice it. No formal training or initiation is required. It is often pursued by household members independently. Motivational speakers and authors promote the techniques. Therapists sometimes discuss its psychological effects on clients.

Peoples and places

The movement originated in the United States. It remains most prominent there among New Thought groups. Recent trends show adoption by Gen Z on social media platforms. The concept has spread globally through English-language media. Different cultures adapt the terminology to local contexts.

What people believe

The philosophy relies on Hermetic and Transcendentalist ideas. It draws from specific biblical verses and Hindu concepts. Proponents view reality as malleable through mind power. They believe the universe responds to emotional frequency. Skeptics classify this as pseudoscience lacking empirical evidence. Scientists criticize the misuse of physics terminology.

When it is done

The practice is not tied to specific festivals. It is performed daily as a routine habit. Followers integrate it into morning or evening rituals. There are no traditional calendar dates associated with the core belief.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Anthropologists study it as a modern religious phenomenon. Historians trace its roots to nineteenth-century spiritualism. Psychologists analyze its impact on cognitive bias. Researchers find it correlates with perceived success but also bankruptcy risk. Sceptics label it an illusion of knowledge and pseudoscience.

Compare and confuse

It shares similarities with the prosperity gospel. It relates to the law of assumption. Lucky girl syndrome is a recent social media variant. It differs from traditional magic by rejecting ritual objects. It aligns closely with secular self-help strategies.

Questions people ask about Law of attraction

Good reading and sources

• Lucky Girl Syndrome: Smug TikTok trend or life-changing positivity?BBC, Article
• Lucky girl syndrome: the potential dark side of TikTok’s extreme positive thinking trendThe Conversation, Article

• Law of attraction (New Thought) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data