Lunar Effects on Behavior

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at the influence of the moon on the earth and how it has fascinated mankind throughout history. According to the paper, prior to the present scientific age the moon was considered to have strange and occult powers that could influence human behavior and events in a multitude of different ways.

From the Paper:

"The question therefore arises as to why certain behaviors have been ascribed to the phases and changes of the moon. The answer to this question in fact reveals the falsity of many lunar myths. One answer is that these myths have their origins in ancient folklore and legends that have been continued in various forms to the present time. For example, the myth about the way that the moon can influence human birth rates can be traced back to the ancient Assyrian and Babylonian beliefs which state that, "A woman is fertile according to the moon." (Carroll R. T. 2005) These views are therefore based on unsubstantiated and pre-scientific opinions of the world and nature and can therefore be seen in the same context as the belief that the world was flat and not round. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Carroll R. T. ( 2005) Full moon and lunar effects. Retrieved 15 September, 2006, from http://skepdic.com/fullmoon.html
• Hill S. Looney Moon-y Ideas. Retrieved 15 September, 2006, from http://www.inquiringminds.org/newsletter/0503/moon.html
• Lunar effect. Retrieved 16 September, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_effect
• Roach, John ( 2004) Full Moon Effect On Behavior Minimal, Studies Say. Retrieved 5 September, 2006, from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/12/1218_021218_moon.html
• Townley, John. Can the Full Moon Affect Human Behavior? Retrieved 5 September, 2006, from http://www.innerself.com/Astrology/full_moon.htm

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