Astrology believers. A new study from Sweden found that people who believe in astrology and horoscopes tend to be more narcissistic and less intelligent. Scientists said that astrology strengthens the feeling of “grandiosity” in people and this supports the narcissistic personality trait. However, researchers said that such beliefs, which are not based on scientific facts, come to the fore in times of crisis, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and economic poverty, and explained that this situation blunts the ability to think critically.
Psychologists from Lund University in Sweden surveyed more than 250 people about their beliefs in astrology and their personality profiles. Those with strong astrology beliefs scored higher on narcissism and lower scores on intelligence tests.
They resist the facts”
However, scientists have also found that belief in zodiac signs is linked to traits such as agreeableness and extroversion. Researchers explained that narcissists may be more sensitive to horoscopes because they are more resistant to facts.
The study, published in the scientific journal “Personality and Individual Differences”, was conducted by psychologist Petri Kajonius and his colleagues.
“Despite the lack of scientific support, astrology is growing in popularity. It is unclear why this ancient practice of studying the positions and movements of celestial bodies, believing that they influence human behavior, is experiencing a revival,” the researchers wrote in their paper.
Higher the narcissism, higher belief
“The main result showed that, surprisingly, the higher the narcissism, the higher the belief in astrology,” the study authors wrote. Acknowledging that more research will be needed to investigate the reasons behind this relationship, scientists also put forward several hypotheses that could explain their findings:
“Since astrological predictions and horoscopes tend to have a positive frame, this reinforces people’s sense of grandiosity. Therefore, it may be even more attractive to narcissists.”
They also noted that ‘narcissistic traits are associated with the belief that astrology is supported by science, indicating that narcissists may generally be more resistant to the truth.
On the other hand, after controlling for all variables, the researchers concluded that “the higher the level of intelligence, the lower the belief in astrology.”
Previous research has concluded that people are more likely to turn to astrology during times of personal crisis. According to the scientists who conducted the study, this fact may explain why the popularity of astrology seems to be on the rise today.
The authors of the study said, “We are currently living with various stress factors such as global warming, economic crises and the Covid-19 epidemic. However, while embracing astrology may seem innocent, it is possible that it facilitates uncritical thinking and reinforces prejudices.
Additionally, belief in astrology is linked to belief in conspiracy theories as well as belief in many other pseudosciences. “This shows that it may not be so harmless,” he warned.
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