The Fault in our Stars
We explore the world in a wholesome search for our identity. For one, we search for our identity from our biological roots, from the genes that built up our existence, and up to the traits we inherited from our ancestors. We also search for our identity from our environment, from the culture we adopt from it, up to the relationships we establish with other people. Also, in this digital age, we tend to search for our identity in social media. Through the Internet, we get to know pieces of ourselves by staying tuned to our interests, avoiding our dislikes, and fulfilling our own sense of global responsibility.
One of the major trends that influence social media nowadays is astrology. It is known to accurately describe an individual’s personality. I, for one, am an example of a person who relies on the stars and the signs to determine who I really am. Born in April, the stars assigned me the astrological sign of Aries. It was said that Aries people are born independent, courageous, optimistic, moody, short-tempered, and impulsive. Somehow, I find it interesting that I tend to accept and conform the personality traits given to me. It was very coincidental how the perception of myself suddenly aligned to what the personality description was telling me.
Was the personality description too subjective that I somehow found it convenient for me to just accept it wholly? Or was it a form of self-validation, an ego boost for my positive traits, and an excuse for my predicted negative traits? All these questions would be answered on the following pages underneath, and also, aiming to explore the impact and the psychology of astrology in our lives.
Where it all began
“Astrology, (is) the study of the positions and movements of astronomical bodies – in particular, the sun, moon, and planets—and their supposed effect on life and events on earth” (Astrology, 2016, para. 1). It tells about how the relationship between the positions or aspects of the planets under the time where the person was born would affect his or her destiny (Astrology, 2016). They also stated that this covers an individual’s personal life, family life, and career (Astrology, 2016).
The roots of astrology grew among the ancient Egyptians, Hindus, Chinese, Estruscans, especially among the Chaldeans of Babylonia, who observed the role of the heavenly bodies in certain natural phenomenons on Earth such as the changing of seasons, and the growth of diverse crops (Astrology, 2016).
Given the fact that astrology has been passed along since the earliest generations and centuries, this could tell how astrology remains influential not only to the past generations, but also up to the current age. Meaning, it is also possible that the influence of astrology does not only affect the society’s external environment, but also it could reach up to their inner aspects, their own self-concepts.
Personality
One of the main aspects of astrology, for example, birth charts, is that they provide a detailed description of your personality traits and certain aspects of your life such as your relationships with other people, and your work ethics. There are a few stereotypes that astrology has determined for each sign: Libras are known to be diplomatic, Scorpios are known to be passionate, Aquarius are known to be innovative, and a lot more. However, is there a chance that these predictions about our identity to be actually valid?
For example, a study was conducted that tests the correlation between astrology and femininity. Pellegrini (1975), as cited by Standen (1975), stated that “students born under Capricorn, Sagittarius, Libra, Leo, Scorpio, and Virgo scored distinctly higher than average on the Femininity scale; people born under Gemini, Taurus, Pisces, Aquarius, Aries, and Cancer scored lower in femininity” (p. 259). They discovered a pattern where the degree of their femininity depends on the signs being consecutively next to each other (Standen, 1975). Dates between January 21 to July 23 tend to score lower in the femininity scale (15.96 to 17.58) while, the other half, the dates from July 24 to January 20, tend to score higher (22.37 to 24.46) in femininity (Standen, 1975).
The study done by Pellegrini (1975), as cited by Standen (1975), implies that there is a connection between a person’s personality and astrology. However, there are also studies that also prove otherwise.
In a study written by Clarke & Gabriels (1996), Arroyo (1975) and Carter (1947) claimed that in Western astrology, people born under Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, and Aquarius (positive signs) are more extroverted than those who are born under the negative signs such as Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces. They stated that “the positive signs are believed to express an active, outgoing, masculine energy whereas the negative signs symbolize passive, self-repressive, feminine qualities” (Clarke & Gabriels, p. 132). Yet, still in the same study, the results did not support the theory. Clarke & Gabriels (1996) disproved the claims that there is a relationship between the amount of extraversion an individual has to astrology.
Both studies add contradiction, and blur the lines about whether the influence of astrological predictions in our predictions are valid or not.
Why we believe
The question still lingers upon why astrology is a trend that people accept rather than repel. It might be that astrology possess a distinct charm that attracts a certain kind of crowd through giving people out their personalized descriptions of themselves. There is a possibility that we may only tend to believe what we only wanted to hear.
In a study done by Hamilton (2000), she confirmed that people may “incorporate astrologically based personality characteristics into their long-term self-concepts” (p. 895). Personality descriptions that are more positive and favorable in content are more likely to be accepted as true and valid by an individual rather than those signs that were provided by an socially undesirable description of themselves (Hamilton, 2000). Particularly, these signs that contains favorable descriptions are the odd-numbered signs such as Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius unlike the even-numbered signs, such as Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces, which contains mostly of unfavorable descriptions of themselves (Hamilton, 2000).
As an Aries, which lies on the positive signs, this might explain why I tend to believe and conform some of the traits provided by astrological reports to my own self-concept. Traits such as independent, courageous, and optimistic seem very appealing, and in my defense, I found it easier for me to claim and live up to these assigned traits.
Another explanation towards popular belief in astrology is through the study of Lillqvist and Lindeman (1998), where they stated that astrology helps the individual understand better the self and his environment. It was agreed upon by many researchers that these two concepts are one of the most basic human needs in the evolving world, hence adding up to the reasons why astrology is popular amongst people (Lillqvist & Lindeman, 1998).
Lillqvist and Lindeman’s study does support the theory that exposure to astrological information provides validation of their self-concept. What makes astrology more appealing though is through its ambiguity. It does not only contain positive traits that validates their self-concept, but also, provides traits that exude uncertainty to justify their predicted flaws.
For example, Scorpios are predicted to be brave and passionate. However, according to the same personality description, they are also predicted to be violent and jealous. The existence of uncertainty frees the person from confirmation, thus, leading to being in favor of their beliefs.
The psychology behind it
Forer (1949) claimed in his study that whenever self-esteem is threatened, our defense mechanism would activate and find a way to protect itself from being damaged. Somehow, we will always find a way to prove to ourselves that our morals and principles are right, rather than do the efforts of changing and deconstructing them. This is similar to the case of confirmation bias.
According to Science Daily, in terms of psychology and cognitive science, confirmation bias (or confirmatory bias) is a way of proving one’s fixed attitudes and predispositions through searching or interpreting information that corresponds to their beliefs.
For example, I recently found out that the astrological sign of a friend of mine is Leo. That would lead me to shortcuts to justify from who she really is to what I’ve known Leos are. Likewise, I would reason out why my friend is extroverted since according to my knowledge, Leos are known to be cheerful and warm-hearted. It led me to search for information that would conveniently fit my previous associations, rather than thinking of different ways to explain her extroversion.
Similarly, Munro & Munro (2000) created a study to test out expectancy confirmation in a classroom demonstration by using astrology as a topic. Snyder & Swann (1978), as cited by Munro & Munro (2000), found out that “when one has a hypothesis, that person often searches for confirming rather than disconfirming information leading her or him to find evidence that supports the hypothesis” (p.114).
In terms of psychology, confirmation bias or expectancy confirmation is just one way of telling why astrology affect our way of thinking of our own identity.
Science literacy
Nevertheless, just because you have a strong belief in astrology, it does not mean that it determines your literacy, or your line of judgment.
Sugarman, et. al (2011) concluded in their study among college undergraduates that prevalence of belief in astrology does not imply poor scientific literacy, through a measurement that guides public science education policy. Even though there are preexisting science classes that diminishes these beliefs, astrology can coexist with legitimate scientific knowledge (Sugarman et. al, 2011). It is not particularly necessary to combat belief in astrology.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the stars do not directly tell us who we actually are., but they could serve as a boost, as a guide that would help us in determining what we can actually be, and what we could actually become.
Bibliography:
Astrology. (2016). Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, 1p. 1.
Clarke, D., & Gabriels, T. (1996). Astrological signs as determinants of extroversion and emotionality: An empirical study. Journal Of Psychology, 130(2), 131.
FORER, B. R. (1949). The fallacy of personal validation; a classroom demonstration of gullibility. Journal Of Abnormal Psychology, 44(1), 118-123.
Hamilton, M. (2001). Who believes in astrology? Personality and Individual Differences, 31(6), 895-902. doi:10.1016/s0191-8869(00)00191-4
Lillqvist, O., & Lindeman, M. (1998). Belief in Astrology as a Strategy For Self-Verification and Coping With Negative Life-Events. European Psychologist, 3(3), 202-208. doi:10.1027/1016-9040.3.3.202
Munro, G. D., & Munro, J. E. (2000). Using Daily Horoscopes to Demonstrate Expectancy Confirmation. Teaching Of Psychology, 27(2), 114-116.
(n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2016, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/confirmation_bias.htm
Standen, A. (1975). Is there an astrological effect on personality?. The Journal Of Psychology, 89(2d Half), 259-260.
Zodiac Signs and Astrology Signs Meanings and Characteristics. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2016, from http://www.astrology-zodiac-signs.com/
