Have you ever wondered why a lunatic is called a lunatic? Well, it’s in the name, it’s because of the moon!
Each month, as the moon swells into its brightest self and stories awaken, tales of werewolves, strange behaviour, restless nights, and emotional outbursts bubble to the surface. Hospitals prepare for busy shifts. Teachers brace themselves for hyperactive classrooms. And some of us simply pause to stare, inexplicably moved by that glowing orb in the sky.
But how much of this lunar lore is reality and how much is simply a myth?
The full moon has captivated humans for millennia. Before artificial lighting, it was the brightest night of the month, often a symbol of illumination, fertility, and transformation in ancient cultures. Pagan rituals, religious calendars, and agricultural practices have long been timed to the moon’s cycles.
But even today, the mystery of the full moon remains. A 2023 survey by the UK’s YouGov found that 43% of people believe the full moon can affect human behaviour. The idea is as enduring as the moon itself. But is there science behind it?
A school teacher, who wanted to stay anonymous for obvious reasons, said: “when I worked at my last school I was warned about it. I thought it was a joke, but it was 100% apparent. That’s why they were called lunatic asylums back in the day.”
She said: “I can’t think of anything specific, just that everyone put the full moon into their diaries, we were braced and ready for the kids to be extra sensitive, reactive, feisty and combative.”
She talked about how she did a lot of colouring in sessions after breaktime football matches, which would turn into emotional brawl. “Students who were 13 all the way up to 16, had a compulsory colouring to decompress, meaning I could actually teach them something in the next lesson.”
She talked to her colleague Alie, who said: “there are no specific stories, just a vibe”. You would think controlling a classroom of children was hard enough without a full moon making them crazy. I may start a petition for teachers to get a raise on a full moon, seems only fair.
One of the most commonly reported effects of a full moon is disrupted sleep. Several small-scale studies have found evidence that people have a more restless night sleep during a full moon. A 2013 study from the University of Basel in Switzerland, showed that participants experienced lower levels of melatonin, took five minutes longer to fall asleep, and slept for 20 minutes less during full moons, even in completely dark rooms.
The mechanism remains unclear. Is it the subtle increase in natural light? A subconscious evolutionary awareness? Or simply a statistical fluke amplified by our tendency to seek patterns?
The “lunar effect” is a term often used to describe the belief that the full moon influences human behaviour in terms of erratic or extreme acts. Even police officers, and firefighters have long spoken anecdotally about full moon ‘madness.’ Paul Shaw from an astrology Facebook group said: “All I’m going to say is, when the moon is at its fullest, animalistic behaviours are also in full swing. It’s something about the energy the moon permits… it must be”.
Tales of werewolves and heightened animalistic behaviours have intrigued the human imagination, blurring the line between myth and biology. Folklore tells of cursed individuals transforming into wolves under lunar light, driven by primal instincts and uncontrollable rage.
But beyond the legends, studies have explored real-world connections between the moon’s phases and human behaviour, suggesting subtle shifts in aggression. The enduring belief in lunar-induced madness speaks to a deeper fear. Maybe beneath our civilised selves lies a wildness waiting for the moon to rise. Does a planet really bring out our animalistic side, or are people just a bit crazy and behave like that regardless of the moons shape?
Training psychiatric doctor Matthew Hurley said: “I am in the hospital all year round so I see it all and not to be a sceptic, but I do think the emergency room is more chaotic on a full moon. I actually saw a study from 2011 that said within the 5,400 patients they tested the study on, there was an obvious increase in number of visits to psychiatry emergency rooms when a full moon is present… I can’t say what I see on a full moon, but it can get intense to say the least.”
However, another scientific consensus remains sceptical. A 2019 review of dozens of studies published in the journal Psychiatry Research found no consistent link between lunar phases and mental health crises, suicide rates, or violent crime. Many researchers argue that confirmation bias plays a huge role. As in, when something strange happens on a full moon, we remember it. But when it happens on a new moon, we forget.
While human behaviour may be harder to pin down, the natural world runs like clockwork to lunar rhythms. Corals use the full moon to synchronise mass spawning events. Certain fish and insects time their reproductive cycles to it. Even some nocturnal animals adjust their activity based on how bright the moonlight is.
And in human biology? The average menstrual cycle aligns closely with the lunar cycle, about 28 days. While there’s no proven causal connection, some researchers continue to explore the possibility of ancient biological ties between the moon and reproductive health.
Perhaps the moon’s most potent effect lies in its symbolism. It’s a natural marker of time, of cycles, of change. Astrologers link the full moon to heightened emotions and culminations. Spiritual communities use it for intention-setting, release rituals, and reflection.
Even without hard scientific evidence, many people report feeling “different” during a full moon, more emotional, more intuitive, more alert. Whether this is psychological suggestion or something deeper is still up for debate.
In the end, the full moon’s power might not come from its gravitational pull or light levels. Instead, it might be from the stories we tell about it. Human culture is steeped in meaning-making, and the moon, ever-present and ever-changing, gives us something to hang those meanings on.
So, the next time you find yourself wide awake beneath a glowing sky, consider whether the full moon isn’t doing anything to us at all. But at the same time, watch out for werewolves and lunatics wondering about too…
