Astronomical Pseudo-Science: A Skeptic's Resource List (Version 3.0; August 2003)

5. The Full Moon and Lunacy

The idea that more crazy behavior takes place during a full moon is well ingrained in folk wisdom. Statistical tests, however, show that there is no such effect, except perhaps in the mind of witnesses and with legends that associate the Sun with good and the Moon with evil. Since the full moon is bright and up all night long, it is more likely to reveal events that also happen during other phases, but are more likely to go undetected.

Abell, G."Moon Madness" in Abell, George& Singer, B., eds.Science and the Paranormal. 1981, Scribners. Good review of this elusive thesis and its earliest tests.

Branham, R. "Did the Moon Sink the Titanic?" in Skeptical Inquirer, Jul/Aug. 1995, vol. 19, no. 4, p. 30.

Byrnes, G. & Kelly, I. "Crisis Calls and Lunar Cycles: A 20-Year Review" in Psychological Reports, vol. 71, p. 779 (1992).

Culver, R., et al. "Moon Mechanisms and Myths: A Critical Appraisal of Explanations of Purported Lunar Effects on Human Behavior" in Psychological Reports, vol. 62, p. 683 (1988).

Gutierrez-Garcia, J. & Tusell, F. "Suicides and the Lunar Cycle" in Psychological Reports, 1997, vol. 80, p. 243. An analysis of 900 suicides where the time was known shows no correlation with moon phase.

Kelly, I., et al. "The Moon Was Full and Nothing Happened" in Skeptical Inquirer, Winter 1985-86, vol. 10, p. 129.

Kelly, I., et al. "World-wide Disasters and Moon Phases" in Skeptical Inquirer, Spring 1990, vol. 14, no. 3, p. 298.

Martens, R., et al. "Lunar Phase and Birthrate: A 5-year Critical Review" in Psychological Reports, vol. 52, p. 111 (1983).

Rotton, J. "Moonshine" in Skeptical Inquirer, May/June 1997, p. 44. A detailed review of a book by the most famous author who has claimed connections. (On-line at: http://www.csicop.org/si/9705/moonshine.html)

Rotton, J. & Kelly, I. "The Lunacy of It All: Lunar Phases and Human Behavior" in Mercury, May/June 1986, p. 1988.

Sanduleak, N. "The Moon is Acquitted of Murder in Cleveland" in Skeptical Inquirer, Spring 1985, p. 236.

Web Sites:

Full Moon and Lunar Effects: http://skepdic.com/fullmoon.html (Part of the Skeptical Dictionary site).

Moonstruck: Does the Full Moon Influence Behavior: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/moon.html (An overview of the many studies).

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