Pseudoscience: Blue Monday - a depressing day of nonsense science (again)
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The "Blue Monday" phenomenon is based on the claim that there is an equation that takes into account numerous variables that negatively influence people's mood and calculates that the most depressing day of the year is the third Monday in January.
This claim is incorrect. It is unscientific. It is pseudoscientific. It is uberpseudoscientific. It is gibberish, bilge, rubbish, crap, stupid, and any other polite way of saying "utter bollocks" that you can think of.
It was created by Dr Cliff Arnall, who often presents himself as a Cardiff University psychologist. I say "presents himself", but I'm not saying he isn't one. Granted, I worked at the Cardiff University psychology department for over five years, and nobody there had ever heard of him, and also the university outreach group have complained several times about having to repeatedly tell enquirers that he's nothing to do with the university (though apparently he worked there as a part-time tutor until February 2006). But I'm not saying he isn't what he says he is.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/brain-flapping/2013/jan/21/blue-monday-depressing-day-nonsense-science
Fun read.
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LeftishBrit
(41,316 posts)On his website:
'Cliff believes passionately that everyone can fly - at least metaphorically - and that being authentic, kind and having fun are the most important attributes for a happy and fulfilled life.
Many people get stuck or wonder about which path to take when at a crossroads (including the path they just used to get to the crossroads). Fear becomes the primary emotion and a seemingly good life can start to unwind with increasing feelings of frustration, irritation and disillusionment.
Coaching is a wonderful way to get you back on track: it's highly motivating, gentle and it's focused entirely on you and how you want to live your life both personally and professionally. Taking coaching sessions with Cliff will result in measurable and lasting improvements at home and work.
Cliff has worked with people from all walks of life in the US, Europe and the UK. They include managers, doctors, nurses, charity workers, entrepreneurs, pharmacists, people with special needs, CEO's, teachers, dental teams, administrators, long term unemployed people, offenders, engineers, top sports players, media staff and more.
Start really believing in yourself.
Remove self-sabotaging behaviours.
Drop the fake masks that are so energy-sapping.
Make positive lasting changes in your life.
Be more relaxed knowing you are being true to your self.
Wake up and start living the life you want.'
On a quick check of the 'Web of Science' publications database, it does appear that he once collaborated with someone at Reading University on a study of nicotine addiction. But the published paper was in 1994; and Arnall's recent work does not seem to be science-related.
There is no doubt that some people suffer from seasonal affective disorder, and become depressed in the wintertime; but I doubt very much that one could put specific dates for it. Or in other words, this theory is indeed utter bollocks.
I also agree that: 'The fact that you can be "depressed" but not have "depression" makes it too easy to dismiss the concerns of clinical sufferers. Saying depression sufferers shouldn't complain because you've been miserable and got over it is a bit like dismissing the needs of an amputee on the grounds that you once had a paper-cut which healed on its own. '
AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)what Guy McPherson, "Lord" Monckton, Anthony Watts, and David Wasdell are to climate science, Alex Jones to alternative media, Joseph Mercola to alternative medicine, and Joe Lieberman to the Democratic Party: He's a hack, a failure, a poser, and has no business being involved in the field that he claims to specialize in.