Description

This article is from the Scientific Skepticism FAQ, by Paul Johnson Paul@treetop.demon.co.uk with numerous contributions by others.

7.4.2: What is the `Mars Effect'?

French scientist Michael Gauquelin has discovered an apparent
correlation between the position of some planets at the time of birth
and the career followed as an adult. The strongest correlation is
between the time when Mars rises on the day of birth and athletic
prowess. However:

o The Effect seems to come and go depending on exactly what the sample
population is. Most of the controversy seems to revolve around who
did what to which sample populations.

o Nothing found by Gauqelin bears any resemblance to classical
astrology, so claims that Gauqelin has somehow "validated" astrology
are bogus.

One of CSICOPs earliest investigations was the Mars Effect.
Unfortunately there is evidence that CSICOP failed to play by the
rules.

For more information, see

Michel Gauquelin, _Neoastrology: A Copernican Revolution_, 1991,
N.Y.: Viking Arkana, was, I believe, his last book.

Patrick Curry, "Research on the Mars Effect," _Zetetic Scholar_ #9,
pp. 34-53. This is followed by a number of critical commentaries,
which continue in _Zetetic Scholar_ #s 10 and 11.

Curry's article and Richard Kammann's article in _ZS_ #10 are the
most detailed and reliable sources of information on CSICOP's
examination of Gauquelin. You should, of course, also read the
U.S. test reports in the Winter 1979 _Skeptical Inquirer_--pay closest
attention to Dennis Rawlins' report, which correctly criticizes both
the main CSICOP report and Gauquelin's report. Also of great
importance is Abell, Kurtz, and Zelen's "Reappraisal" of the Mars
effect study in the Spring 1983 _Skeptical Inquirer_, and Suitbert
Ertel's "Update on the 'Mars Effect'" in the Winter 1992 _SI_.

You can obtain back issues of the _Zetetic Scholar_ from Marcello
Truzzi, Dept. of Sociology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI
48197. I suspect that issues 9, 10, and 11 are now available only
in photocopied form. In 1987 they were $8 each.

 

Continue to:

• prev: 7.4.1: Could astrology work by gravity?
• Index
• next: 7.4.3: But couldn't there be some undiscovered connection between people and planets?

Share and Enjoy

Tags

science, engineering, scientific skepticism, skeptics, Conspiracy Theory