People feel less anxious when they believe they have control over their future and will create all kinds of methods of predicting the future.
As far as evolution is concerned the specie that can accuratley predict its future and anticipate catastrophe will survive. This is just what human brains are capable of: prediction of the future to ensure survival.
However that ability to predict requires accurate information and is only accurate in a population sense i.e. more accurate than inaccurate.
With the advent of culture, communial living and the social variable that our brains have to cope with this ability to predict the future is massively curtailed.
Imagine living in a small tribe an having to imagine what is good for you and the tribe: it is difficult.
Imagine doing the same living in a society where you have to interact (and factor into your predictions) with thousands: much harder.
This inability to assess and appropriately react causes us to be anxious. This is a state that we are averse to and will attempt to avoid this psychological state.
People are great at this avoidance; we concoct all sort superstious mechanisms to foster the illusion of control. You can think of this as 'magical thinking' and you can see in in when people 'knock on wood' or stay in on Friday 12th, looking to prophesy for guidance, etc.
It's all to foster the illusion of control in our lives because for some, the inherent randomness or life provkes too much anxiety.
We all do it every time we cross our fingers, wish each other good luck, pray, or avoid tempting fate. It has absolutely no effect on reality but it makes us feel less anxious.
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