Considering the influence of horoscopes on daily habits and decision-making, this article discusses why relying on your own judgment is more beneficial than trusting generalized astrological predictions, especially concerning important life changes.
So, you’re seeing all these horoscope predictions for the year, and you’re probably wondering if there’s any truth to them, right? Some folks even make really big life decisions based on what their horoscope says. I mean, it’s tempting to think some cosmic force is guiding us, but, um, is it really? Are we just reading into things what we wanna see? We’re gonna explore that a bit further in this post.
- Women Read Horoscopes More Than Men!
- Daily Habits!
- Horoscopes Sow Reassurance in Their Followers
- Taking Decisions
- Trusting Yourself
But first…
Women Read Horoscopes More Than Men!
According to a study done in 2005, about 28% of women who were surveyed believe what their horoscope tells them. Comparatively, only 23% of men surveyed felt the same way. And, another study in 2009 found that women were more likely than men to be influenced by the wording of a horoscope reading. Some psychologists believe that this tendency is more prevalent among women because of something called “Locus of Control” in psychology. Basically, that term refers to how much a person believes they have control over their lives. People with an internal locus of control tend to believe they control their own destiny, while people with an external locus of control are more likely to attribute things to outside forces, like horoscopes. Studies show that an internal locus of control is more common in men, while an external locus of control is more common in women.
Interestingly, some magazines and popular newspapers that feature horoscopes tend to tailor their content to women. Because of this tendency, and understanding the research, it’s safe to say that most of these publications are more popular with women.
Daily Habits!
Many of us do it automatically, particularly when we’re scrolling through social media or browsing news sites, right? A lot of us check our daily horoscopes out of habit. We glance at what the horoscope says for our sign, and then we move on. It’s just part of the morning routine for some. On the other hand, some folks really take their horoscopes to heart in the morning. It seems some people don’t really think too deeply about the horoscope they read.
Speaking of which, some horoscope experts point out that many people tend to associate how they feel about relationships with what their horoscope tells them. Horoscopes, generally, tend to be broad enough that they kinda sound true, right? I mean, horoscopes can often be pretty vague when it comes to love (read: The science of attraction makes your heart healthier!).
Horoscopes Sow Reassurance in Their Followers
Because their content tends to be general and simple, they usually match the explanations of many people, especially when talking about the first impression they get when hearing a horoscope’s prediction, some folks focus on tailoring its meaning, and its interpretation, in reference to the experiences and circumstances of their lives, which allows horoscope readings to be relevant to a broad audience, because people believe that they are reading words addressed to them personally, even though they are, in reality, very general! We may see some individuals act, even, based on their recent horoscope reading to reinforce its accuracy.
Some of the happenings that they experience, in fact, even though there is a very common and well known psychological phenomenon, called confirmation bias, which causes individuals to reinforce the accuracy of what horoscopes tell them on very simple matters in which horoscopes were right, and neglect the vast amount of events where horoscopes contradict, and forget the great amount of the events they predicted inaccurately! Some horoscopes even provide a sense of order to people’s lives; it’s a daily reminder that maybe there’s a grand design at play. And who doesn’t want to think that the universe has their back?
Taking Decisions
Some find in horoscopes guidance that directs them through life’s ups and downs, especially when facing decisions that require taking fate into their hands. But despite the impracticality of what horoscopes say, some find in them a justification for a decision or an expenditure of money, as well as a way to face common challenges similar to the challenges they faced before.
Some experts in psychology believe that people mostly resort to horoscopes when facing changes in their daily routines, or when they feel like they’ve started to lose control of events around them. When a person feels in control of their life, they tend to look inward for answers; otherwise, horoscopes provide this individual with glimpses of general advice on matters that they perceive have become beyond their control. In doing so, horoscopes give them an outlet to turn to for guidance; it may offer general hints about paths to take and ways to approach oncoming situations!
Perhaps that’s why women tend to go for horoscopes when needing minor, easy relationship advice (read: What does the man want and what does the woman want!). Because women are more likely than men to attribute things to relationships, it might make sense that women would look to horoscopes for general advice on creating a sense of order in their chaotic lives.
Trusting Yourself
No matter what decision you’re making, it’s important, so take the time you need. Whether it’s about your relationship, finances, academics, health, or anything else. The thing is, you should think of consulting horoscopes as more of a light exercise than a rigid set of rules. That way, you can take on board the wisdom horoscopes give out without being constrained by it.
Instead of immediately jumping to what your horoscope dictates for important stuff, take that general vibe and weave it into your own inner knowledge. That being said, relying on horoscopes for smaller decisions? No biggie! We might tend to depend on horoscopes when dealing with trivial stuff. However, it becomes risky when they dictate major life changes.
Taking advice from horoscopes is, therefore, more about cultivating trust in yourself in the first place! Building that trust needs a multi-pronged approach, from keeping on learning to being curious and practising self care. Sounds way better than letting a horoscope run the show, right?
Basically, you’re more likely to make better decisions when you’re in touch with who you are!
I hope you’ve found this article from the Vitalo360 team helpful. I hope it helps you realize that your life shouldn’t depend on what your horoscope tells you for the year, but on strong personal character, which you can always build with accessible psychological and scientific foundations.
Testimonials
“I always kinda glanced at my horoscope, ya know? But after reading this, I’m gonna focus more on my own gut feeling and less on some random prediction.”
“My friend is obsessed with horoscopes. She makes every decision based on them, and I’ve always been skeptical. It’s great to have some solid reasons why relying on yourself is way more important.”
Myth & Facts
Myth: Horoscopes are always accurate for everyone.
Fact: Horoscopes are often generalized and can be interpreted in many ways, making them seem relevant but not necessarily accurate for specific individuals.
Myth: Horoscopes can predict major life events with certainty.
Fact: There is no scientific evidence to support the idea that horoscopes can accurately predict future events or outcomes in a person’s life.
So, bottom line? I guess it’s cool to read your horoscope for a bit of fun, but don’t let it be the, um, north star of your life! Trust yourself, people!
