Richard P. Taylor, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Richard York, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR

Abstract: We propose the novel hypothesis that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and seasonal mood variation more generally, may be influenced in part by how seasonal changes influence people's exposure to fractals in their environments – for example, due to changes in vegetation and cloud cover. This general hypothesis implies that seasonal mood variation may occur not only in high latitudes but also in tropical areas where wet-dry seasons alter the fractal character of the environment. Based on our general hypothesis, we develop a series of specific hypotheses about where seasonal mood variation may be most prevalent. We also discuss potential reasons for variation in mood across individuals and propose testable treatment options for those experiencing SAD.

Keywords: biophilia, fractal fluency, seasonal affective disorder.