Does the full moon affect certain people?

Question

Does the full moon affect certain people across the globe? I've heard that it affects animals, but humans are essentially animals. I've also heard that it does make some people feel "weird" or "different". What is your opinion?

Answer 1

Popular legend has it that the full moon brings out the worst in people: more violence, more suicides, more accidents, more aggression. The influence of the moon and behavior has been called "The Lunar Effect" or "The Transylvania Effect." The belief that the full moon causes mental disorders and strange behavior was widespread throughout Europe in the middle ages. Even the word "lunacy" meaning "insanity" comes from the Latin word for "moon."

Some studies show that a particular behavior will occur more often during the full moon and other studies show no relationship between behavior and the full moon. This finding alone casts doubt on the theory that the full moon influences behavior. It may also be that experiments have been designed differently. For example, some studies include "full moon" behaviors that occur a few days before and after the full moon, while other studies include only those behaviors within a single day of the full moon.

It is also important to remember that studies that examine relationships between behavior and the phase of the moon determine only correlations. These types of studies determine if one set of numbers varies in a reliable manner with another set of numbers. If they do, then it can be said that a relationship exists.The existence of a relationship between two "variables" DOES NOT mean that one variable causes the other variable.

" Ivan Kelly, James Rotton and Roger Culver (1996) examined over 100 studies on lunar effects and concluded that the studies have failed to show a reliable and significant correlation (i.e., one not likely due to chance) between the full moon, or any other phase of the moon, and each of the following:
-the homicide rate,traffic accidents,crisis calls to police or fire stations,domestic violence,births of babies,suicide,major disasters,casino payout rates,assassinations,kidnappings.
aggression by professional hockey players,violence in prisons,
psychiatric admissions [one study found admissions were lowest during a full moon],agitated behavior by nursing home residents,assaults,gunshot wounds,stabbings,emergency room admissions,alcoholism and sleep walking.
(see http://www.usask.ca/education/people/kellyi.htm,http://www.csicop.org/si/9705/moonshine.html, and http://www.physics.colostate.edu/People/faculty/culver)"

For more research which doubts the moon has any affect on our behavior see:c see: http://skepdic.com/fullmoon.html

Answer 2

People who work in emergency rooms often observe that they get more emergency cases during a full moon, and cite this as evidence that people are acting strange (or criminal) at that time of the month.
But I have heard that actual statistical studies show that there is no correlation between phases of the moon and activity in emergency rooms. It's just that if they have a busy night and it happens to be NEAR the time of a full moon, they say that's what caused it. Or someone might say, "There must be a full moon tonight," and others think there's a cause-effect relation, even though the moon is actually in a different phase.)

Answer 3

I do believe the full moon can have certain effects on certain people. I know a friend of mine who worked in the mental home and she said that was when the patients would being acting up their worse. I also know from personal experience that I use to have epileptic seizures. My seizure would take a turn for the worse once a month and it would be for about a week. Personally I can understand if the magnetic flow of the moon can cause tidal waves, it can effect us as well.

Answer 4

I would say so...The moon does affect humans. Ask a police officer. As a fire-man and working close with the Police. They will tell you there are more calls on a full moon. I don't believe the magnetic effect really plays much on animals as much as it does say the ocean. but I think has more to do with the light of the moon. Light plays a big part of our emotions, and how we feel. People that spend time in the sun or a sun lit room seem to more perky than than people that do not get enough light. People in Seattle Washington seem to have more depression.

Answer 5

I work with children who have behavioral disorders and when I first started there, I heard rumors about the full moon affecting these kids... I laughed it off until the first full moon. Nothing like I could have expected. The rest of the staff and I don't even need to look at a calendar to tell when the full moon will be anymore. I truely believe it does affect people.

Answer 6

Every one goes a little nutty when a full moon is high in the sky. It is indeed a wonderful site to behold. It has to do with the gravitational difference with-in the earths atmosphere between the moon and the earth during this time. Hope this has helped.

Answer 7

I know it affects people. Every hospital in the world usually over staffs the emergency room the day before during and after a full moon.

Answer 8

As an ex-fish and wildlife manager, there were numerous studies that showed that animals changed their eating habits during a full moon and in the days surrounding it. Trout were subject to this more than other fish. While I claim to know nothing about humans, it only should logically follow that there is some similiar thing going on in our bodies. Perhaps the lack of nutrition or over influx of caloric intake (depending on the changed eating habits during the full lunar period) causes a simple chemical reaction that releases different hormones in the body/mind and we react differently to the same stimuli.
I am no expert on humans, but that makes sense.

Answer 9

No doubt it does affect certain people.
The effect is not the moon itself,it is innocent the effect is strictly local[Or should I say "loco"]

Answer 10

There is no scientific proof, but....

I work for a small-town police department. And I gotta say, full moons tend to make my life miserable.