F*ck Astrology: Science Proves That When You Are Born Does Not Impact Your Life
Astrology may be extremely entertaining, but it's not a science. You'll find more wisdom in a fortune cookie. Simply put, it's complete and utter nonsense.
Correspondingly, as the American astronomer Phil Plait recently stated:
Astrology doesn't work. ... Astrology has no predictive power, no physical cause to believe it has predictive power, and is entirely explained by psychological effects like confirmation bias (remembering predictions that were right and forgetting the ones that were wrong) and the Forer effect (thinking vague, general predictions apply to you specifically).
If you still don't believe me, check out this informative monologue from the world-renowned astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson:
Indeed, astrology is bullsh*t, but there is some truth to the notion that the time of year people are born will impact their lives.
Actually, there is scientific evidence that the season people are born in affects their mood and personality later in life. Likewise, statistically, a person is more likely to be a leader, or boss, if he or she is born during certain months.
Being Born In The Summer Isn't All It's Cracked Up To Be
A recent study from researchers from Semmelweis University in Budapest revealed that the season people are born in impacts their mood and personality as adults. The researchers studied a sample of 366 Hungarian university students and made some pretty surprising findings.
Xenia Gonda, the lead researcher and an assistant professor at the university, stated:
Biochemical studies have shown that the season in which you are born has an influence on certain monoamine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, which is detectable even in adult life. This led us to believe that birth season may have a longer-lasting effect.
Dopamine and serotonin are the neurotransmitters that impact the processes in the brain that regulate emotions and arousal. Simply put, these are the chemicals in the brain that regulate our mood and how we feel.
Thus, while individuals born in the summer come into the world during the sunniest and happiest time of the year, their moods don't always stay that way. The study found that summer babies are far more likely to experience frequent mood-swings in their adult lives.
Interestingly enough, Kanye West, the absurdly talented, yet habitually moody and temperamental hip-hop artist, was born in June. Likewise, everyone's favorite neurotic comedian, Larry David, was born in July.
Winter Babies Are Smart And Chill... No Pun Intended
Contrarily, while winter babies are born during the bleakest, coldest and most depressing time of the year, according to the study, they have a decreased likelihood of developing an irritable temperament. Perhaps cold weather fosters stoic personalities?
An additional study has also shown that winter babies are typically larger, more intelligent and more successful. According to the study, which was conducted at Harvard University:
Compared to summer births, those born in winter were significantly longer at birth, and were heavier, taller and had larger head circumference at age seven. They also had higher scores in a series of intelligence exercises.
Correspondingly, President Abraham Lincoln, a very large, intelligent and successful individual, was born in February.
Autumn Babies Are Content, Athletic And Live Longer
The Semmelweis University study also found that those born in autumn are less likely to experience depression than babies born in winter.
Other studies have also shown that autumn babies live longer. At the University of Chicago, researchers looked at the data surrounding 1,500 people who lived to be 100 or older and were born between 1880 and 1895. The study found that the majority of the people who lived to be a century or older were born between September and November.
Additionally, a study from the Centre for Sports and Exercise Science at Essex University showed that autumn babies are more athletic. The research showed that autumn babies are faster, can jump higher and are stronger than babies born in spring.
Hmm... Maybe this explains why Zlatan Ibrahimović and Derrick Rose were both born in October.
Babies Born In Spring Are Optimistic And Destined To Lead
Correspondingly, the Semmelweis University research showed that spring babies, and some summer babies, have a tendency to be overly positive. Hence, maybe people born in the sun are inherently optimistic?
While the study does offer some interesting insights, further research is needed to fully determine the link between people's month of birth and their personalities. Yet, it's still safe to say that this research is a lot more reliable than astrology.
In addition to impacting mood and personality, a study by the University of BC's Sauder School of Business suggests that the season a person is born in will affect his or her corporate success.
According to the study, babies born in March or April are twice as likely as those born in June or July to become CEOs. Perhaps summer babies are too busy spending their time at the beach.
Professor Maurice Levi, the co-author of the study, said this all has to do with the structure of the school year. In essence, the children who are born in early spring are more likely to be the oldest students in their elementary school classes. Consequently, the teachers are more likely to view these older students favorably and place them in positions of leadership earlier on.
Thus, these children are essentially groomed to be leaders from a young age.
Older children within the same grade tend to do better than the youngest, who are less intellectually developed Early success is often rewarded with leadership roles and enriched learning opportunities, leading to future advantages that are magnified throughout life.
The moral of the story here is, if you're into astrology, consider a new hobby. Likewise, if you were born in the summer, you're more likely to be an excessively positive, yet moody individual who is also unlikely to become a CEO. At least you still have the warm weather?
