maledizioni

Maledizioni refers to curses, hexes, or ill wishes believed to bring harm to a person, group, or object. The term is Italian; etymology traces maledizioni to Latin maledictio, from malus "bad" and dicere "to say," literally "to say bad things." In colloquial use, maledizioni can also denote general misfortune or bad luck.

In historical and anthropological contexts, maledizioni appear in many cultures as expressions of power attributed to speakers, witches, or ritual specialists. In Europe, belief in maledictions has linked words, gestures, or written formulas to real-world consequences; protective measures—amulets, prayers, or rituals—are often described alongside them.

Scholars classify maledizioni by origin (spoken curses, written curses, ritual acts) and by intended effect (misfortune, illness, or social sanctions). They are common motifs in folklore, literature, and cinema, where they explore themes of justice, fate, and the limits of human agency.

From a scientific perspective, there is no empirical evidence that maledizioni affect reality; effects are understood as psychosocial, including stress, expectation, or self-fulfilling prophecies. Today, maledizioni are primarily studied as cultural phenomena within folklore, anthropology, and media studies, reflecting how societies construct guilt, fear, and social norms.