Biorhythms and decision-making.

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between biorhythm theory and decision-making. Biorhythm promoters claim behavior is influenced by a trio of biological rhythms which control the availability of energy to inner resources through alternating cycle phases. The strongest emphasis is upon critical days when cycles change direction since it is at this time the organism is most unstable and prone to erratic behavior. Decision-making is a behavior where the major behavioral impetus would come from internal sources and would thereby serve as an example of behavior under biorhythmic influence. The decision by Vietnam era Army enlistees to commit the offense of absence without leave (AWOL) was the behavior observed. A sample of 104 subjects was gathered from the 1978 military discharge review files. Subjects were placed into groups determined by whether the decision to go AWOL was made on biorhythmic critical days or non-eritical days. Chi square procedures were used to analyze the observed frequencies of critical day AWOLs. The alpha level was .05 with two le7els for the independent variable. Analyses were performed separately for each of the three biorhythm cycles and for a combined cycle total. Unavailability of exact birth and departure times were compensated for by using the median times of the four birthdate quarters and selecting seven potential departure intervals. Analysis was performed on the mean value of the four birth times for each departure interval. No s1gnificant relationships were found for any of the individual cycle analyses. Three of the twenty-eight base measurements in the combined cycle analysis were significant, but were determined insufficient basis to modify the overall statistical findings. The null hypothesis of the study was retained. Recommendations were made for further and more comprehensive study. Also, original resources should be located since the reliability of commercialized publications is questionable.