How horoscopes can turn into 'horrorscopes'

A new study has revealed that studying the horoscope can be actually bad, as it can lead to indulgent and impulsive behaviour upon reading a negative prediction.

Researchers at the University of South Carolina and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland asked participants to choose between going to a party or cleaning their home after they read a favourable or unfavourable star sign, the Independent reported.

Hyeongmin Kim of Johns Hopkins University, and Katina Kulow and Thomas Kramer of the University of South Carolina said that conventional wisdom might suggest that for people who believe they can change their fate, an unfavourable horoscope should result in an attempt to improve their fate.

However, the study revealed that an unfavorable fateful prediction subsequently increases the likelihood of choosing indulgent over virtuous options for those who believed their fate is malleable.

The study has also found that approximately one third of people in America "strongly believe" in the fateful predictions of the horoscopes.

The research was published in the Journal of Consumer Research.