Is astrology real?
Recent research suggests that the season in which individuals are born may have a subtle impact on their personalities, potentially offering an explanation for the development of astrological signs as a mnemonic device for these patterns.
Now, a recent article in Comprehensive Psychology written by UConn researcher Mark Hamilton delves into this phenomenon and its potential implications.
Is Astrology Real? The Seasonal Influence on Personality Traits
Psychologists have long observed correlations between birth months and certain personality traits.
For instance, those born in January and February tend to exhibit greater creativity and are more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia than individuals born during other times of the year.
Additionally, people born in odd-numbered months are generally more extroverted than their even-numbered month counterparts.
Why might that be?
Looking to the Stars for Answers
Traditional Western astrology employs elements (water, earth, air, and fire), sign duality (bright/dark), and sign qualities (cardinal, mutable, and fixed) to describe and categorize these effects.
It regards late December through early March as a “wet” time of year, associating wetness with creativity.
“Fixed” signs are considered to be more stubborn and persistent than others.
A Celestial Pattern: The Astrological Signs of the Famous
Hamilton analyzed a data set consisting of 300 celebrities spanning various fields, including politics, science, public service, literature, the arts, and sports.
He discovered that these celebrities’ birth dates tended to cluster around specific times of the year. ‘Wet’ signs, as well as signs classified as ‘bright’ and ‘fixed,’ were associated with a higher number of celebrities.
“Psychologists want to dismiss these astrological correlations, but there are seasonality effects that we have yet to explain,” explains Hamilton, a social scientist in the Communication Department at UConn.
While Hamilton does not argue that celestial bodies are the true source of these effects, he posits that astrological aspects serve as useful tools or heuristics that help people remember the timing and patterns of nature.
Extending the Study: 85,000 Celebrities Over Millennia
Hamilton is currently collaborating with other researchers on an ambitious analysis of 85,000 celebrities dating back to 3,000 B.C.E. and spanning various cultures.
Preliminary findings suggest that the seasonality effect on celebrity remains consistent even within this extensive data set, providing further evidence for the potential influence of birth season on personality traits and the development of astrological signs as a means to remember these patterns.
Celestial Choreography: An Intriguing Dance of Seasonality and Personality
In the end, the subtle dance between seasonality and personality traits may offer a key to understanding the enduring appeal of astrology.
As researchers like Hamilton continue to explore this fascinating connection, we may find ourselves revisiting the stars and reevaluating the ancient wisdom that has captivated humanity for millennia.
Study: “Astrology as a Culturally Transmitted Heuristic Scheme for Understanding Seasonality Effects: A Response to Genovese”
Author: Mark A. Hamilton
Published in: Comprehensive Psychology
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2466/17.CP.4.7
Publication date: January 1, 2015
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