Ferretti, A. (2024, July 29).
Clearer Thinking.
Astrology is very popular — both Gallup and YouGov report that about 25% of Americans believe that the position of the stars and planets can affect people's lives, with an additional 20% of people reporting being uncertain about astrology’s legitimacy.
Previously, we tested whether facts about a person's life can be predicted using their astrological sun signs (such as Pisces, Aries, etc.). A number of astrologers criticized this work, saying that of course we found that sun signs don't predict facts about a person's life, because that's baby or tabloid astrology. Real astrologers use people's entire astrological charts to glean insights about them and their lives.
And they had a good point! Despite sun sign astrology being popular, most astrologers use entire astrological charts, not merely people's sun signs. Here are some examples of the feedback we received:
Inspired by these critiques, we enlisted the help of six astrologers, and with their feedback and guidance, we designed a new test to see whether astrologers can truly gain insights about people from entire astrological charts!
Here are some thoughts:
A recent study put the claims of astrology to the test, examining the ability of 152 astrologers to accurately match individuals with their corresponding natal charts. Despite their confidence in their abilities, the astrologers performed no better than chance, with none correctly matching more than 5 out of 12 charts. The study found no correlation between experience and accuracy, and even the most experienced astrologers failed to perform better than the rest.
The study highlights the importance of scientifically testing claims, particularly those that are ambiguous or unsubstantiated. To test a claim, one must first make it precise, choose a measurable outcome, design a study, and then analyze the results. In this case, the study's findings provide strong evidence against the claim that astrology can accurately match individuals with their natal charts.
The results also reveal a striking disconnect between the astrologers' confidence in their abilities and their actual performance. This raises questions about the validity of astrology and the need for more rigorous scientific testing of its claims. By applying the scientific method to such claims, we can separate fact from fiction and gain a deeper understanding of the world around us.
