Authors
Outi Lillqvist1, Marjaana Lindeman1
1Department of Psychology Finland
Abstract
This study investigated the role of astrology in self-concept
verification and coping with negative life-events. Forty students
in elementary courses of astrology, psychology, and German language
rated their certainty about 20 self-describing attributes and three
assumptions related to the self. The subjects were also asked to mark
whether and how many times they had experienced particular crises and
traumatic
events. Participation in an astrology course, but not in
psychology or German courses, verified the participant's
self-concept by increasing certainty of the self-descriptive
attributes and the assumptions of self-control and perceived
luck. In addition, interest in astrology was positively correlated
with the number of personal crises, but not with the number of past
traumatic events. The motivational mechanisms underlying astrological
beliefs and the enormous popularity of astrology are discussed.
Keywords
Astrology, self-verification, self-concept, stress
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