Astrology’s Appeal: Psychological Comfort and Universal Narratives
Astrology continues to exert a powerful influence thanks to a combination of convincing predictions and the psychological comfort it offers. Modern practices often appear credible, leading many to feel that these predictions truly work. At the same time, the universal formulations that allow everyone to see reflections of their own personality turn the horoscope into a finely tuned mirror that reflects our hopes and fears. It is also important to note that the availability of astrological forecasts in the media and everyday culture makes them an integral part of life, relaxing us and freeing us from the need to take full responsibility for our life decisions. Thus, the phenomenon of astrology remains captivating not only because of its apparent accuracy but also because it instills the confidence that the stars, however unpredictably, guide us in this complex world.
Why are people prone to believing in astrology and other pseudoscientific predictions?People tend to believe in astrology and other pseudoscientific predictions for several reasons. First, astrological predictions often appear credible; one explanation is that "it works," as modern astrologer Grant Levy noted, emphasizing that for many people the practical “successes” of these forecasts seem convincing (source: link txt, p. 213).Secondly, the nature of horoscope statements is so general that almost anyone can find something familiar in them. This is the effect where the mass descriptions of personality traits are so universal that they seem to fit almost everyone, regardless of their actual personal characteristics (source: link txt, p. 225). Thus, the vagueness and ambiguity of the formulations contribute to people accepting the predictions as their individual description.Moreover, the popularity of such predictions is explained by their accessibility: astrological forecasts are easily found in everyday press, making them part of daily culture. Another important aspect is the psychological component: belief in horoscopes allows some people to relieve themselves of the responsibility for their life decisions, since all events are attributed to the unpredictable stars – "the stars are just aligned that way, nothing can be done" (source: link txt, p. 1386). This idea liberates a person from the need to take full responsibility for their actions and, in turn, reduces the internal tension related to choosing a path in life.Supporting citation(s):"If the non-biblical and unscientific nature of astrology is so obvious, then why do so many people believe in it? ... 'Because it works'" (source: link txt, p. 213)."Most of the personality traits mentioned in them are so general that almost everyone can see something of themselves in them. ... But why do many take it so seriously?" (source: link txt, p. 225)."So why do people still believe in astrology? Clearly, the reason for the popularity of horoscopes is that ... they are accessible to everyone: anyone can read an astrological forecast in the evening newspaper ... And finally, believing in horoscopes, a person is in a way freed from any responsibility: the stars are just aligned that way, nothing can be done." (source: link txt, p. 1386).