Self-Attribution Theory and the Sun-Sign

Abstract

Summary Mayo, White, and Eysenck found that S s born under the odd-numbered sun-signs had higher mean extraversion scores than others and that S s born under the water signs had higher mean neuroticism scores than others. Pawlik and Buse reasoned that these findings might be attributable to the S s' knowledge of the alleged characteristics of people born under their signs (self-attribution theory). In order to investigate the Pawlik and Buse argument with S s who were assumed to be naive with regard to astrological knowledge, the EPI was administered to 245 student nurses. Neither of the two findings of Mayo et al. was substantiated, but a significant seasonal effect was found post hoc: summer-born S s obtained a higher mean extraversion score than winter-born S s.