Here I explore why some people buy into the belief of astrology despite its validity being disproven many times by science. Why do humans believe in things without proof?
To some, astrology is a guiding principle that dictates, explains, and warns against occurrences in life. It is something consulted often, with the results shaping both one’s perception about life and himself or herself. Yet to others, myself included, astrology is nothing more than a trivial chart in the back of a magazine. It is something read for a laugh or passing interest, but never something to place any weight in. With science disproving the validity of astrology time and time again, it seems absurd that so many people continue to buy into its claims. Today I’m going to explore how and why people believe in astrology.
As someone who believes in science and concrete evidence, astrology is not something I’ve ever understood. Admittedly, however, astrological beliefs do extend beyond vague predictions in magazine horoscopes. There is the easily dismissed sun sign astrology that magazines and newspaper columns portray, and then more nuanced and complicated predictions that I frankly don’t have the time to explain in detail. But the consensus is that one’s birthday and the position of the planets, moon, and sun can predict personality traits and perform prophetic predictions. The scientific takeaway is that none of the astrology versions have any validity to them. Astrology claims to use knowledge of the cosmos to predict the future without any proof to back it. But, thanks to several psychological reactions, astrological evidence isn’t needed for belief.
When evaluating why people choose to believe in something that is not backed by science, the psychological explanations are similar to why people believe in anything that requires faith. Choosing to believe in astrology fulfills several core human desires, including feeling connected to something beyond the self, gaining a sense of control over one’s life in a chaotic world, and selectively choosing evidence to support beliefs. Of course, to believe in astrology, one also must ignore evidence that is contrary to astrological findings. But due to subjective validation, this can be easier than one might think. People are biased towards believing that information is correct if they can relate it to themselves and create personal meaning. Correspondences can be created between events that are not linked because people are so eager to seek out meaning in them on a personal level. Therefore, they can create links that do not exist, providing something to believe in.
People have a remarkable ability to seek themselves out in generalizations if they are inclined to do so. When astrology believers find themselves identifying with their birth-determined Zodiac sign, it’s not because it is accurate, but because they could see themselves in any of the options if told it was fitting. The Barnum Effect, also known as the Forer Effect, explains how people can find themselves in personality descriptions that can be applied to almost anyone. People can view generalized statements and seek themselves out in them because they want to feel uniquely targeted and described. In the words of the famed American showman P.T. Barnum, who the psychological phenomenon is named after, “There’s a sucker born every minute.” Acts such as fortune-telling and horoscopes prey on people’s inherent need and want to feel special and unique, profiting off of their ability to see themselves in generalizations.
Despite valuing freedom, many people take comfort in being told what to do. The dictations of authority remove some of the fear and responsibility from choice. Rather than being personally at fault for something going wrong, people can instead blame it on astrology, claiming the moon wasn’t correctly aligned or that Mercury was in retrograde. This perceived deeper connection to the universe gives people a sense of fulfillment, enlightenment, and connection that satisfies their deeper needs. In other cases, people need a push forwards, and where it comes from doesn’t matter. They can write in anonymous internet forums or consult horoscopes, desperately seeking a sign. Since people see what they want to see, they are often able to find what they are looking for by doing so, and there is no harm in that. Many ultimately turn to astrology to make sense of their lives and contend with chaos and uncertainty.
Though astrology is difficult not to view as entirely absurd to minds seeped in science, it is psychologically understandable why people turn to it. Life is difficult, chaotic, and above all, unpredictable. There is no inherent harm in seeking comfort in a guiding principle to help one get through the many obstacles life presents, especially if it helps people attain peace. However, people should be wary of putting too much faith in astrology and allowing it to dictate their actions. Astrology is pseudoscience. People need to take responsibility for their choices and understand that their birthdate does not dictate their personality and should not influence their actions. Both a person’s shortcomings, as well as their commendable qualities, should be attributed to that person and not the planet alignment at their time of birth.