Are Psychology and Astrology Real or Fake?

Most people see psychology and astrology as two very different disciplines with the former often viewed as real and the latter dismissed as fake. Merriam Webster defines psychology as the science of mind and behavior and astrology as the divination of the supposed influences of the stars and planets on human affairs and terrestrial events by their positions and aspects. The attempt to delineate one as a science and one as pseudoscience is clear in the language used to even define the two disciplines. However, psychology’s place in the sciences is significantly more tenuous than one might think and ultimately the two fields of study have significantly more in common than initially believed. I want to explore how each is perceived in their ability to replicate results, the concept of harm reduction, and the powerful idea of doing what works.

In the sciences, replicability is an attempt to reproduce the results of previous research in an attempt to generate the same results. This practice is one of the key ways in which scientists are able to build confidence in the research that defines their field and establish credibility in the scientific community. Researchers who seek to test such reproducibility must ensure that their efforts are performed in accordance with established and accepted approaches, such as using similar equipment under similar conditions. They must also disclose limitations and efforts to mitigate biases. Because of this, there are often sceptics who believe that the replication experiments are not sufficient to discredit the conclusions drawn from the original research.

In the field of psychology, you may have heard about the replicability crisis that has plagued the field for nearly a decade after the majority of research, upon which psychology relies, was not able to be reproduced. According to the  Replication Index as low as 36% of studies have reproducibility, seriously calling into question the credibility of the field of psychology as a science. In 2018 The Atlantic examined the crisis further in its piece  “Psychology’s Replication Crisis Is Running Out of Excuses” where they took a look at a multi-year project called Many Labs 2 (you can read a breakdown of the project here) and found that nearly half of the theories that were tested were not able to be reproduced. In 2020, the rampant questioning and growing impatience of the scientific community led the American Psychological Association to write a piece pushing the suggestion of “Leaning into the replication crisis: Why you should consider conducting replication research” to young researchers. While such existential battles are relatively new to the psychology discipline, this is a war that astrologists have been fighting for centuries.

 

So that leads us to the perpetual fight for legitimacy that astrologers face. Interestingly enough, the majority of research that has tested the validity of astrology has been focused on its predictive capability and not its therapeutic (we’ll delve into that a bit later). So what have these attacks on astrology as a discipline found. In a 2009 article titled A Statistical Test of Astrology a test was discussed where astrologers were tasked with identifying which group (gifted students versus students with cognitive disabilities) anonymous birth charts should be assigned. Of the astrologers that participated the “results showed a success rate marginally less than what would be achieved by tossing a coin”. The exact percentage was not provided but let’s assume, the use of the term marginally, would put us between 40%-49%. If you remember, the effort to reproduce/validate theories from psychology was only 36%! Further a test of whether astrologers could predict which children had cognitive disabilities is hardly a test of personality, behaviors, or character.  A limitation that astrologer Robert Currey explored in his paper  “Testing astrology based on practice rather than theory – A system for extracting themes in birth charts”. He pointedly notes that there is “a disconnect between how researchers test natal astrology and how consultants practice natal astrology”. Most tests of astrology involves focusing on predicting one specific piece of information about a particular person or group and typically focuses exclusively on the person’s sun sign. He followed up this paper with an exploration on reviewing the natal charts of Supreme Court justices and examining whether their natal charts show an affinity towards pursing careers in law and justice in his paper titled “Justice for the Supreme Court – Delving beyond a Sun Sign Test of 114 Justices” (page 78). In his research he observed and noted “evidence of a correlation between Supreme Court justices and their birth charts is consistent with the traditional and current claims by astrologers of a link between Jupiter/Sagittarius and Venus/Libra with the law and justice”. It appears that when given real subjects correlations can be observed when astrologers use their full methods for using astrology as a tool.

Beyond the existential threat that replicability and reproducibility make to both psychology and astrology, there are other similarities that the two share. Both require their practitioners to be cognizant of their own personal biases and how those biases may influence their interpretation of data or information. In psychology, this means acknowledging the therapist's own baggage or beliefs and how they can affect their ability to empathize or understand their clients. In astrology, this means recognizing the astrologer's own prejudices or predispositions and how they can color their interpretation of the stars or planets.

So where does that leave practitioners and believers of both? The benefit to both is in their efficacy as a therapeutic tool. It is not necessarily important to people who are seeking a means of understanding their authentic whole selves, looking to learn self-acceptance, and/or developing a deeper sense of self-awareness, whether their go-to choice for guidance and support practices a discipline accepted by the scientific community or not. These are not questions we ask of those that seek counsel with religious leaders, family and friends, or through prayer. No one has ever tried to do replicability tests or double blind experiments on whether prayer is real (though there have been studies that show that maintaining a sense of spirituality leads to better health outcomes).

So, what matters most is whether the practitioner maintains a strategy of constructive support. It is important that they reinforce what the client can do versus those factors that are truly outside of the client’s control.  Therapists and astrologers have many different means and approaches for working with the people that they are hoping to help. The concept of "doing what works" is often associated with evidence-based practice, a key principle that emphasizes the use of therapies and interventions that have been empirically shown to be effective.  These same principles can be applied to astrology where the goal is to provide guidance that is not simply grounded in science but also personalized to the individual. By "doing what works," both can help clients make meaningful changes and improve their quality of life.

Whenever questions about whether psychology or astrology are real or fake arise, try to think of both in the context of their therapeutic value. Therapeutic value generally refers to the effectiveness or benefits of a treatment, therapy, or intervention in improving a patient's health, well-being, or quality of life. It can be measured in different ways, depending on the nature of the therapy and the specific outcomes of interest. It's important to note that what is considered therapeutic value can vary widely from person to person, depending on their individual needs, preferences, and goals. So, let’s just do what works.

So, whether you're a die-hard skeptic or a cosmic enthusiast, exploring the connection between psychology and astrology can be a fascinating journey. It's a chance to delve into the depths of the human psyche while gazing at the wonders of the universe.

At Geanra, we celebrate the beauty of the cosmos through our celestial-inspired jewelry. Our Ascendant Earrings and Cardinal Necklace are not just stunning accessories, but reminders of the vastness and interconnectedness of the universe. So, embrace your cosmic side and let the stars guide you on your path!

Disclaimer: While astrology can offer insights and guidance, it's important to remember that ultimately, we are the masters of our own destinies. The stars may provide a roadmap, but it's up to us to navigate the cosmic highway!