Is There a Connection Between the Moon and Our Behavior?

For centuries, the moon and how its phases influence human behaviour have been a talk. In earlier days, people believed that certain phases of the moon could make individuals more or less aggressive. It was then the term “lunacy” originated to be linked with the lunar cycle. While much of this revolves around the realm of mythology and folklore, psychologists did much research on this topic and uncovered many interesting insights about the bewitching of the moon and its mysterious effects.

Does our Mood Change According to the Moon?

A small study was done with 17 people diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is characterized by swifts between depression and mania. The study examined the link between mood changes and the lunar cycle and found that these swifts in moods were not random but based on the phases of the moon.  While the actual mechanism behind how the moon affects our mood remains unclear, researchers suggest that there is some link between the two. The lunar cycle somehow influences moods.

Read More: Bipolar Disorder: Mania & Hypomania

Does the Full Moon Affect our Sleep Pattern?

As we know our body releases hormones, each of which has its role to do and maintaining the overall healthy functioning of our body. When we prepare to sleep, for instance, our body produces melatonin, a hormone that calms our body and prepares us for a good night’s rest. 

Hormones often act like switches, when one switch is on the other seems to be off. So when melatonin is produced at night, serotonin a feel-good hormone tends to decrease. Melatonin is typically secreted when there is a calm, quiet, and dimly lit atmosphere. However, many researchers suggest that the brightness of the full moon day can affect the sleep-wake cycle.

A study done in Argentina in 2021 found that people went to bed later on full moon nights where there is more natural light after dusk. It is widely said that this has to be an “innate adaptation” we inherited from our ancestors, who used to take advantage of natural light. Their tendency to “more light, more work” was passed down to generations.

Read More: The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Health and Well-being

Ancient Beliefs about the Moon Influence

For millennia people associated the full moon with madness. People also believed the full moon made people more aggressive. Historian Johnston, in his book, discussed how Aristotle believed that the brain’s high water content made it susceptible to the phases of the Moon. This concept of “tides of the mind” led to the association of the full Moon with violent behaviour, seizures and mental illness. In those days, even menstrual cycles were linked with lunar cycles.

However, all these are just myths and misconceptions from times when science had not yet developed. Around 1400 years ago, according to Islam during the time of Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) a lunar eclipse occurred on his son Ibrahim’s death. The people around started associating the eclipse with the sun and moon mourning for the loss of his son.

Upon hearing this, the prophet still grieving, addressed the people to clear the misunderstanding. He explained to the people that the sun and the moon do not eclipse because of a person’s death. Rather, it is a sign of God and a natural process. 

This myth was dispelled 1,400 years ago, yet similar beliefs persist even today. People continue to link the lunar cycle with various effects, often attributing events or behaviours to the moon without scientific proof. Later studies have shown occasional coincidences with the lunar cycle but lack clear evidence. Here are a few explanations that might help us understand why we continue to associate the moon with certain effects,

Read More: Psychology Behind Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

Self-fulfilling prophecy, if you likely believe that something will happen then it is highly likely to happen. Our brain is hyper-focused on one outcome that it tends to avoid others. If we are only focused on the negative then only negative will happen and vice versa. This is how we connect ourselves to the moon. For example, if you believe seeing the moon after a tiring day boosts you, then it likely will. Some people even talk to the moon as if it’s their loved one.

This might help because their brain believes so. Likewise, if you think the full moon will trigger irritability then you will associate anything that happens that day with the full moon, keeping you on edge the whole day/night. Therefore, mostly the correlation of the moon with mood and behaviors is a self-fulfilling prophecy. While it’s highly subjective, not everyone feels the same.

Illusory Correlation

This is something we all do. We put two and two together even if it doesn’t make sense to anyone else. This subconscious way of thinking is called an illusory correlation. It might often stem from one’s own experiences and biases. Dr.Albers explains that this is how we hinge our experiences with the lunar cycle, which has nothing to do with us. It is natural but we end up in illusory correlation.

Read More: Placebo Effect: How It Plays an Important Role in Health Care

The Placebo Effect 

Like the illusory correlation, but slightly different, is the placebo effect. This occurs when a person’s physical or mental health improves by false treatment. The treatment has no therapeutic value but works because they believe it helps. For example, a person is given vitamin tablets but when he is told, it’s the cure for the disease, their condition improves thinking they have received treatment. Our brain is set on a certain outcome and works for it. Similarly, people link mood and behaviours with the moon. They believe certain phases of the moon have certain effects. And that belief is so strong that even a negative event can be attributed in a positive light just because of its connection to the moon.

The moon and the sun are scientific, natural occurrences on Earth that have nothing to do with our moods or behaviours. Psychologically, the beliefs people hold are strong enough to shape their reality. Much like self-fulfilling prophecies events often unfold because we believe they will.

FAQs

1. Does the lunar cycle have anything to do with lunacy?

It is a myth that the term “lunacy” was derived from the word “lunar”. However, people believe that a full moon can make them aggressive and this belief is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

2. Does the moon affect sleep quality?

Yes, research shows that during the full, moon people tend to sleep later than on other nights. This is due to the availability of more natural light after dusk, which is an innate tendency to “more light, more work” we have inherited from our ancestors.

3. Is there any scientific evidence to prove the moon affects human behaviour?

No, there are no clear pieces of evidence to link the moon and human behaviour but the occurrences may be most likely coincidences.

4. Can the moon make someone happy?

Obviously yes, if you believe so. The reason behind it consists of many psychological principles such as self-fulfilling prophecy, placebo effect, and illusory correlation which explains how our beliefs can shape reality.