Does the full moon really have an effect on human emotions and behavior?

It happens at least once every month. Sometimes, rarely, it happens twice a month. Up there in the sky. It's a bird. It's a plane. No, it's a FULL MOON.
Popular legend has it that the full moon brings out the worst in people: more violence, more suicides, more accidents, more aggression. The influence of the moon and behavior has been called "The Lunar Effect" or "The Transylvania Effect." The belief that the full moon causes mental disorders and strange behavior was widespread throughout Europe in the middle ages. Even the word "lunacy" meaning "insanity" comes from the Latin word for "moon."

What are your experiences?

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Permalink Reply by Gypsy LeeLee on May 11, 2009 at 11:05am: O.K. Noli....I simplified it. Bigtime. I'll just post a link for anyone that wants the data.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Noli on May 11, 2009 at 2:19pm: Oh....Thanks; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Noli on May 11, 2009 at 2:19pm: I was at work so I couldn't read it all...BUMMER. When I get home i'll look at it again.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gypsy LeeLee on May 11, 2009 at 11:06am: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/moon.html; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gypsy LeeLee on May 11, 2009 at 11:31am: Well.... statistics are statistics. My opinion is that people drive different and are more prone to leave the house on a full moon night.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brahnwynn Chrysalis on May 11, 2009 at 11:12am: I work in an ER. I have one co-worker who does not believe in the Full Moon Effect. Most Full Moon nights, I want to slap him.......; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Debbie on May 11, 2009 at 2:45pm: Both my son and my husband have a hard time falling asleep at night when the full moon is near or full.
We don't have a phases of the moon on our calender either so it is not like my husband will look at it and start "psyching" him self up for it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Arachneh on May 11, 2009 at 3:53pm: Does the full moon really have an effect on human emotions and behavior?

My ex (corrections officer) and a friend (FD captain) swear it does.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Eamane' on May 11, 2009 at 4:04pm: As a Homeopath/Herbalist I see women who are affected by the Full Moon frequently. Also my neighbour is a midwife and says that most babies are born on or around the Full Moon. She's been a midwife for years and swears by this.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rose on May 11, 2009 at 4:04pm: Research has failed to nail down any proof, but many people who work in prisons, hospitals, mentally ill wards, say they believe it does.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lady SpringWolf, D.D. on May 11, 2009 at 11:56pm: It's not just popular belief. Several years ago I remember seeing in the news a study that showed the statistics of various types of crimes, accidents and court cases resulting from situations where the moon was full. I wish I could remember where I saw this, but maybe it's posted on the web some where. Anyway it was interesting seeing the rise in occurrences of these legal matters during a full moon vs. other moon phases.

I look at it this way. Scientifically we already know that the moon governs the tides of the oceans. Humans are mostly bags of water, why wouldn't the moon have an impact to us as well?

Now the urban legend I've heard that I don't know if anyone has statics about is...
a woman's menstrual cycle is governed by the full moon. Young women tend to menstruate prior to the full moon, while older women cycle after the full moon.; ▶ Reply to This