Does a Full Moon Actually Affect Our Behavior?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSource of SuperstitionLunar-Conscious BehaviorSpiritual Significance of the Moon

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Source of Superstition

Lunar-Conscious Behavior

Spiritual Significance of the Moon

“It must be a full moon.”

How often do we use that phrase when we encounter careless drivers on the road, unruly subway riders or generally bizarre behavior? It’s a tradition that dates back to the first century when both Greek philosopher Aristotle and Roman historian Pliny the Elder hypothesized that a full moon induced madness across the land it illuminated. In fact, “lunatic” comes from the Latinlunaticus, for “of the moon” or “moonstruck”.

Despite centuries of blaming the moon for mischief, mood swings and mystical occurrences, scientific research on the subject continues to point toward mere correlation rather than causation. So, why do many of us hold onto this belief?

Realistically, any “effect” the moon has on us might be linked to our ancestors. But its incredible significance within certainspiritual practicesand rituals both ancient and new-age, as well as its ties to folklore, myths, urban legends, and Halloween means that despite what the science shows us, some still choose to believe in the power of the moon.

Even some modern thinkers toyed with this idea. Psychiatrist Arnold Lieber, MD, dug deeper into this belief with his books, “The Lunar Effect: Biological Tides and Human Emotions”, written in 1978, and “How the Moon Affects You: A Compelling and Controversial Book on the Moon’s Awesome Power to Affect Your Emotions and the Way You Live.”

Astronomers, physicists, and psychologists have all come to the conclusion that human behavior is not related to the lunar phase.

In 1985, researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 37 studies comparing lunar cycles to instances of crisis center calls, suicides, crimes, and psychiatric issues. The results show no relation between the full moon and any increase in these occurrences.

If the science tells us the connection doesn’t exist, why do superstitions persist?

If a belief sticks (for the most part) for thousands of years, there must besomethingthere. An article inDiscover magazinesuggested that the lunar lunacy effect originates from the fact that a brighter moon was probably more likely to disrupt our ancestors’sleep quality, causingsleep deprivationand sour moods.

But many experts interpret strong beliefs about the moon’s effect as illusory correlation orconfirmation bias, in which we pay greater attention to the events that support our beliefs versus the ones that don’t.

We’re more likely to take note of something strange happening when there’s a full moon, and that sticks in our memory.

Amy Morin, LCSW says, “It may be that the expectation that things get ‘a little weird’ around a full moon actually becomes aself-fulfilling prophecy. People might start acting a little differently because they believe they are supposed to act out of the ordinary.”

Whether the moon has an invisible impact on human behavior or not, there’s something to be said for the conscious ways in which humans behave in alignment with the lunar cycle.

Among indigenous cultures around the world, the moon holds great significance. In the US, early Native Americans acknowledged that Grandmother Moon regulated the tides and watched over the waters of Earth, and full moons were important for tracking the passing year, which is why certain full moons have specific names that vary from tribe to tribe. Honoring the moon through ritual and dances of gratitude remain an important practice and connection to nature.

The moon holds spiritual significance for other groups, as well. As a major player inastrology, the lunar cycle is believed to heavily influence behaviors and moods.

The moon is often associated with the subconscious, and if you’ve ever investigated your birth chart, you’ll recognize that your “moon sign,” which correlates with the moon’s location in the sky at the exact moment you were born, is thought to tell you about your emotions and intuition.

Mindfully syncing with the moon’s phases is thought to be a powerful spiritual and self-care tool, as well. Every 29.5 days, the moon completes a full cycle,and each phase of that cycle corresponds with particular actions that vary among cultures. For example, it is believed that full moons are a time for self-reflection, while new moon are an opportunity to set intentions.

Although science has debunked many myths surrounding the moon, still people hold onto those facets of folklore that disregard a need for proof. You might not be able to blame the full moon for bad driving or awkward interactions, but beingmindfulof its presence can positively impact your conscious behaviors. There’s also nothing wrong with embracing the spooky vibes of a full moon in October—it’s those scary stories and mystery of the season that makes Halloween so much fun.

11 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Garfinkle RA.The moon in mankind’s history and lore.Luna Cognita. Published online 2020. doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-1664-1_1Lieber AL, Agel J.The Lunar Effect: Biological Tides and Human Emotions. Dell Pub. Co; 1978.Sheldon G, Prunckun H.When the full moon rises over the Sunshine State: A quantitative evaluation of Queensland police calls.International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences. 2017;12(1). doi:110.5281/zenodo.345722Rotton J, Kelly IW.Much ado about the full moon: a meta-analysis of lunar-lunacy research.Psychological Bulletin. 1985;97(2).Gupta R, Nolan D, Bux D, Schneeberger A.Is it the moon? Effects of the lunar cycle on psychiatric admissions, discharges and length of stay.Swiss Med Wkly. 2019. doi:10.4414/smw.2019.20070Margot J.No Evidence of Purported Lunar Effect on Hospital Admission Rates or Birth Rates.Nurs Res. 2015;64(3):168-175. doi:10.1097/nnr.0000000000000086Simón A.No effect of the full moon-supermoon on the aggressive behavior of incarcerated convicts: nailing the coffin shut on the Transylvania effect (the myth of the full moon affecting human behavior).Biol Rhythm Res. 2017;49(2):165-168. doi:10.1080/09291016.2017.1354799Näyhä S.Lunar cycle in homicides: a population-based time series study in Finland.BMJ Open. 2019;9(1):e022759. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022759Vyazovskiy V, Foster R.Sleep: A Biological Stimulus from Our Nearest Celestial Neighbor?.Current Biology. 2014;24(12):R557-R560. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.05.027Theriault N, Leduc T, Mitchell A, Rubis JM, Jacobs Gaehowako N.Living protocols: remaking worlds in the face of extinction.Social & Cultural Geography. 2019;21(7). doi:10.1080/14649365.2019.1619821Lunar and Planetary Institute.Sky Tellers - Moon Phases.

11 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Garfinkle RA.The moon in mankind’s history and lore.Luna Cognita. Published online 2020. doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-1664-1_1Lieber AL, Agel J.The Lunar Effect: Biological Tides and Human Emotions. Dell Pub. Co; 1978.Sheldon G, Prunckun H.When the full moon rises over the Sunshine State: A quantitative evaluation of Queensland police calls.International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences. 2017;12(1). doi:110.5281/zenodo.345722Rotton J, Kelly IW.Much ado about the full moon: a meta-analysis of lunar-lunacy research.Psychological Bulletin. 1985;97(2).Gupta R, Nolan D, Bux D, Schneeberger A.Is it the moon? Effects of the lunar cycle on psychiatric admissions, discharges and length of stay.Swiss Med Wkly. 2019. doi:10.4414/smw.2019.20070Margot J.No Evidence of Purported Lunar Effect on Hospital Admission Rates or Birth Rates.Nurs Res. 2015;64(3):168-175. doi:10.1097/nnr.0000000000000086Simón A.No effect of the full moon-supermoon on the aggressive behavior of incarcerated convicts: nailing the coffin shut on the Transylvania effect (the myth of the full moon affecting human behavior).Biol Rhythm Res. 2017;49(2):165-168. doi:10.1080/09291016.2017.1354799Näyhä S.Lunar cycle in homicides: a population-based time series study in Finland.BMJ Open. 2019;9(1):e022759. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022759Vyazovskiy V, Foster R.Sleep: A Biological Stimulus from Our Nearest Celestial Neighbor?.Current Biology. 2014;24(12):R557-R560. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.05.027Theriault N, Leduc T, Mitchell A, Rubis JM, Jacobs Gaehowako N.Living protocols: remaking worlds in the face of extinction.Social & Cultural Geography. 2019;21(7). doi:10.1080/14649365.2019.1619821Lunar and Planetary Institute.Sky Tellers - Moon Phases.

Garfinkle RA.The moon in mankind’s history and lore.Luna Cognita. Published online 2020. doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-1664-1_1Lieber AL, Agel J.The Lunar Effect: Biological Tides and Human Emotions. Dell Pub. Co; 1978.Sheldon G, Prunckun H.When the full moon rises over the Sunshine State: A quantitative evaluation of Queensland police calls.International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences. 2017;12(1). doi:110.5281/zenodo.345722Rotton J, Kelly IW.Much ado about the full moon: a meta-analysis of lunar-lunacy research.Psychological Bulletin. 1985;97(2).Gupta R, Nolan D, Bux D, Schneeberger A.Is it the moon? Effects of the lunar cycle on psychiatric admissions, discharges and length of stay.Swiss Med Wkly. 2019. doi:10.4414/smw.2019.20070Margot J.No Evidence of Purported Lunar Effect on Hospital Admission Rates or Birth Rates.Nurs Res. 2015;64(3):168-175. doi:10.1097/nnr.0000000000000086Simón A.No effect of the full moon-supermoon on the aggressive behavior of incarcerated convicts: nailing the coffin shut on the Transylvania effect (the myth of the full moon affecting human behavior).Biol Rhythm Res. 2017;49(2):165-168. doi:10.1080/09291016.2017.1354799Näyhä S.Lunar cycle in homicides: a population-based time series study in Finland.BMJ Open. 2019;9(1):e022759. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022759Vyazovskiy V, Foster R.Sleep: A Biological Stimulus from Our Nearest Celestial Neighbor?.Current Biology. 2014;24(12):R557-R560. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.05.027Theriault N, Leduc T, Mitchell A, Rubis JM, Jacobs Gaehowako N.Living protocols: remaking worlds in the face of extinction.Social & Cultural Geography. 2019;21(7). doi:10.1080/14649365.2019.1619821Lunar and Planetary Institute.Sky Tellers - Moon Phases.

Garfinkle RA.The moon in mankind’s history and lore.Luna Cognita. Published online 2020. doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-1664-1_1

Lieber AL, Agel J.The Lunar Effect: Biological Tides and Human Emotions. Dell Pub. Co; 1978.

Sheldon G, Prunckun H.When the full moon rises over the Sunshine State: A quantitative evaluation of Queensland police calls.International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences. 2017;12(1). doi:110.5281/zenodo.345722

Rotton J, Kelly IW.Much ado about the full moon: a meta-analysis of lunar-lunacy research.Psychological Bulletin. 1985;97(2).

Gupta R, Nolan D, Bux D, Schneeberger A.Is it the moon? Effects of the lunar cycle on psychiatric admissions, discharges and length of stay.Swiss Med Wkly. 2019. doi:10.4414/smw.2019.20070

Margot J.No Evidence of Purported Lunar Effect on Hospital Admission Rates or Birth Rates.Nurs Res. 2015;64(3):168-175. doi:10.1097/nnr.0000000000000086

Simón A.No effect of the full moon-supermoon on the aggressive behavior of incarcerated convicts: nailing the coffin shut on the Transylvania effect (the myth of the full moon affecting human behavior).Biol Rhythm Res. 2017;49(2):165-168. doi:10.1080/09291016.2017.1354799

Näyhä S.Lunar cycle in homicides: a population-based time series study in Finland.BMJ Open. 2019;9(1):e022759. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022759

Vyazovskiy V, Foster R.Sleep: A Biological Stimulus from Our Nearest Celestial Neighbor?.Current Biology. 2014;24(12):R557-R560. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.05.027

Theriault N, Leduc T, Mitchell A, Rubis JM, Jacobs Gaehowako N.Living protocols: remaking worlds in the face of extinction.Social & Cultural Geography. 2019;21(7). doi:10.1080/14649365.2019.1619821

Lunar and Planetary Institute.Sky Tellers - Moon Phases.

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