The validity of astrological predictions on marriage and divorce: a longitudinal analysis of Swedish register data

This paper examines astrology, a concept that is considered unscientific by broad segments of the population in the western world. Despite this, astrology remains for some an important source for advice regarding choices in a range of different matters, including career and relationships. The continuing popularity of astrology may at least partly be linked to an insufficient body of empirical research that has been able to test hypotheses formulated by astrological theory, both due to a lack of data beyond very small study populations as well as astrological predictions frequently being vague and thereby difficult to test. This article examines how differences in astrological favorability influence partner choice in marriage as well as the divorce risk among married couples using longitudinal individual-level data from Sweden over the period 1968-2001. The results fail to provide any consistent evidence to support the notion that astrologically more compatible couples are either overrepresented among observed marital unions or associated with a lower risk of divorce.

MMPI Findings on Astrological and other Folklore Concepts of Personality

The 2600 community adult subjects tested in the 1989 MMPI restandardization project by Butcher, Dahlstrom Graham, Tellegen, and Kaemmer were grouped on the basis of their astrological sign the year of their birth in the oriental yearly cycle, and the day of the week on which they were born. Analyses of variance were carried out on the T scores of the basic MMPI profile scales for both males and females on each of these categories. No effect size ( R2) larger than 2% was obtained on any scale in these analyses. No evidence was found in support of these folklore concepts. Discussion focused on the continuing paucity of empirical research on and support for these notions.

Why Astrology Doesn't Work

The survival and longevity of astrology has been dependent on an astrological community that will, under no circumstances, allow it to fail. Consequently, a large array of ad hoc hypotheses (escape routes) have been marshaled over the years to prevent contrary evidence from being used to confront central tenets of astrology. The result is a closed system with little, if any, empirical grounding. It is further argued that the fit of people to birth charts (horoscopes) lies in several unremarkable, lax rules of astrological interpretation.

Self-Concept in Terms of Astrological Sun-Sign Traits

In this study 308 women and 114 men (mean age was 25.6 yr.) indicated how well 96 personality traits applied to them. The traits were chosen from astrological literature to represent astrological sun-signs (eight traits for 12 signs). To give some examples, a trait for Aries was Impulsive, for Taurus Conservative, for Gemini Versatile, and so on. It was hypothesized that subjects would describe themselves in terms of those traits that pertained to their sun-sign. This result was found, but only for subjects who had some astrological knowledge. This finding may be accounted for by a process of self-attribution, wherein astrological knowledge may affect a person's self-concept.

Modern Astrology: A Critique

Astrology, as presently practiced (in either its traditional or psychological form), has no relevance to understanding ourselves or our place in the cosmos. Modern advocates of astrology cannot account for the underlying basis of astrological associations with terrestrial affairs, have no plausible explanation for its claims, and have not contributed anything of cognitive value to any field of the social sciences. Further, astrology does not have the theoretical or conceptual resources to resolve its own internal problems adequately or external anomalies or to adjudicate among conflicting astrological claims or systems.

Belief in lunar effects on human behavior

Questionnaires sent to 325 people indicated that 140 people (43%) held the personal belief that lunar phenomena alter individual behavior. Specifically, mental health professionals (social workers, master's clinical psychologists, nurses' aides, LPNs) held this belief more strongly than other occupational groups.

Lunar phases and psychiatric hospital admissions

To assess the lunar hypothesis as predictive of mental health emergencies and antisocial behavior, the relation of the lunar hypothesis and the occurrence of psychiatric hospital admissions of developmentally disabled adults was examined. The full moon phase of the lunar cycle did not explain a higher rate of hospital admission and accounted for only .007% of the variance. A critique of the methodology in prior research led to the suggestion that more immediate stressors and environmental factors are more plausible contributing factors to hospital admission.

Attempted suicide and the lunar cycle

An analysis of 383 cases of attempted suicide presented to the Accident and Emergency Department during 12 complete lunar cycles (one year) gave no support for an association between attempted suicide and the lunar cycle, especially the full moon. No control for weekends or holidays was made.