Cases of lunacy and distemper are well-documented through history, however. A little precaution never hurt anyone.
In 1996, professors Ivan Kelly, James Rotton and Roger Culver examined over 100 studies on lunar effects and concluded that the studies have failed to show a reliable and significant correlation (IE: one not likely due to chance) between the full moon, or any other phase of the moon, and each of the following:
- homicide rate
- traffic accidents
- crisis calls to police or fire stations
- domestic violence
- suicide
- major disasters
- kidnappings
- violence in prisons
- psychiatric admissions (one study found admissions were
lowest during a full moon)
- agitated behavior by nursing home residents
- assaults
- gunshot wounds
- emergency room admissions
- alcoholism
- sleep walking
- epilepsy
If so many studies have failed to prove a significant correlation between the full moon and anything,
why do so many people believe in these lunar myths? Kelly, Rotton, and Culver suspect five factors: media effects, folklore and tradition, misconceptions, cognitive biases, and communal reinforcement.