Final answer:
People believe in astrology and horoscopes due to cognitive biases and psychological needs, despite the lack of scientific evidence for their predictive power. Astrology often provides emotional comfort and a semblance of therapy rather than true guidance.
Step-by-step explanation:
While astrology and horoscopes do not hold any scientific evidence for their predictive power, people continue to believe in them due to a variety of cognitive biases and psychological needs. The belief in astrology could be attributed to the Forer effect (also known as the better than average illusion), where individuals believe that vague and general personality descriptions are highly accurate for them personally, thereby giving the illusion that the horoscope truly understands and predicts their behaviors and experiences.
Moreover, astrology satisfies certain psychological needs by offering individuals a sense of comfort and control in an unpredictable world. People enjoy the process of discussing their lives and problems with someone who listens, which can be therapeutic in and of itself, and astrologers, playing a role similar to therapists, often provide such a platform.
However, astrology should not be considered a reliable source of information when making important life decisions. Its perceived effectiveness is more a testament to human psychology and the desire for meaning and patterns rather than actual causal influence from celestial bodies.