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Much Ado About the Full Moon. A Meta-Analysis of Lunar-Lunacy Research

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James Rotton
James Rotton
James Rotton
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Ivan William Kelly at University of Saskatchewan
Ivan William Kelly
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Data from 37 published and unpublished studies were combined in a meta-analysis that examined relations between phase of the moon, type of lunar cycle, sex, publication practices, geographical features (latitude, population density), and several types of lunacy, including mental hospital admissions, psychiatric disturbances, crisis calls, homicides, and other criminal offenses. Although a few statistically significant relations emerged, effect size estimates indicated that phases of the moon accounted for no more than 1% of the variance in activities usually termed lunacy. Alleged relations between phases of the moon and behavior can be traced to inappropriate analyses, a failure to take other (e.g., weekly) cycles into account, and a willingness to accept any departure from chance as evidence for a lunar effect.
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... Even today, the legacy of the moon continues to pervade our culture, where many people still believe that "the mystical powers of the moon induce erratic behaviours…" (Arkowitz & Lilienfeld, 2009: online). In response to this mysticism, scientists have gone to great lengths to show that there is no correlation between the presence of full moons and the prevalence of crimes, suicides, psychiatric problems and crisis centre calls (Rotton & Kelly, 1985). This fact is obvious and valid. ...
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