Follow Your Sign

Here is an interesting article on astrology.

Summary: Most of us don’t believe in astrology. But if we like what we read, we may not be able to resist our stars.


In the journal of Personality and Individual Differences, Margaret Hamilton, a psychology professor at the University of Wisconsin, shows that a sun sign’s favorability may determine how readily people come to believe it describes them.

She found that subjects with negative sun signs are more likely to believe in astrology than subjects with positive sun signs. This shows that people may more likely to believe in astrology if their sign’s characteristics are favorable.


She goes on to show how most likely people pick out examples in their lives that match their signs. If it is “written in the stars” it is easy to point to astrology as the reason.

The “good” thing about this is that people may capitalize on their strengths because they have the freedom to be that person because it is in their sign. A shy Leo might take on leadership responsibilities because she knows Leos are leaders.

The downside is that people can use their sign to avoid responsibility for their “flaws.” “Of course I’m a bitch - we Leo’s are notoriously bossy and interfering.”

She talks about a study done on “expectancy confirmation”-the tendency to look for confirmation of previously held beliefs. Subjects were more likely to rate their own horoscope as most accurate when they knew which one was supposed to pertain to them. And subjects with more desirable sun signs showed a stronger belief in sun sign validity than subjects with less desirable signs.

It goes to show you that people readily integrate such predictions into their long-term self-concepts. I guess if we like what we see, we might not be able to resist believing. (Italics mine)

This statement holds true for many things, not just astrology: religion, relationships, and rumors to name a few.

Religion

“I guess if we like what we see, we might not be able to resist believing.”

In religion you are told what to look for and what to believe. When you are looking for the “right things” you begin to see them. If you are looking for God’s hand in things, you begin to see it - it’s not luck, it’s God. It’s not coincidence, it’s God. It’s not a natural occurrence, it’s God. You can see God’s hand in everything that occurs around you, even in the “bad” things. God must be trying to teach you a lesson - rejoice.

And in religion you are told what will happen if you don’t believe - The Fear Factor.

The two biggest religions in the world (Christianity and Islam) have many things in common - missionary zeal, intolerance of other religions, using violent measures to eradicate other religions, and the promise of hell and damnation if you don’t believe it.

Relationships

“I guess if we like what we see, we might not be able to resist believing.”

We see what we want to see in another person and don’t see what we don’t want to see. Even if all the signs are there that this person is less than or more than we bargained for. Even if our friends warn us about his/her shortcomings or bad habits.

I am thinking of an acquaintance of mine who has the worst “luck” with relationships. Part of the reason is she only sees what she wants to see, she only believes in the good parts. She never sees the warning signs.

Rumors

“I guess if we like what we see, we might not be able to resist believing.”

If a rumor fits our perception of a person or out thoughts about a person, we tend to believe them and perpetuate the rumor. On the other hand, if the rumor doesn’t fit your perception - it usually dies.

The mind is a tricky thing. Use it wisely. Question authority. Resist the norm. Think things through. Be thorough. Try on both sides. Use your brain.



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