Thank you so much for your comment, as this is certainly an intriguing topic. Dr. Richter says in lay terms, people use the word “ritual” to to refer to a comfortable or familiar routine, while in psychiatry, it refers to a certain pattern of behaviour that often must be adhered to rigidly. Some rituals include elements of superstition, in that people expect the outcome to be a positive one. Whether you put your clothes on in the same order hoping to have a good day, or you avoid walking under a ladder to ward off bad luck, it can all stem from the same belief that acting out a certain behaviour will result in something good or bring about a desired outcome.