Twilight and Psychology

[shamrock838]

Twilight and Psychology:

I am researching the subject of twilight (or half-light) from a psychological, physiological, and behavioral perspective.

How do humans react to these times in terms of mood change, performance, and possibly abnormal behavior relating to the transition times between full light and full dark (day and night)?    

What about the extended twilights in the higher latitudes where day or night can extend over a stretch of weeks � even months � the nearer one approaches the poles?

I see twilight as an everyday phenomenon that is largely overlooked and little understood by the general public.  It�s a brief but paradoxical time of mixed emotions that crosses the varied boundaries of the human experience � and psyche � including the arts, sports, astronomy, religion, radio broadcasting, geography, history, and the natural world.

Have any studies been performed on this phenomenon?  I would very much like to know.  

Thanks.

[PsychVegas]

I would think from an evolutionary perspective you would argue twilight brings anxiety as you rush to get things done before darkness. Once it is dark there is some level of apprehension offset by a corresponding level of perceived protection, e.g. your deep in a cave that you and your fellow clansmen have used for several months. Dawn brings a sense of comfort as a new day begins. Performance would be possibly be decreased due to lower levels of light and any anxiety that soon no light will be left. A full moon would bring more comfort than no moon. I'm just throwing things out here, no supporting research.

Not sure about the studies, but probably some interesting stuff out there.

[RisingSun]

It's easy to forget that for the vast majority of human history, there has been no electricity and therefore no artificial lighting. Imagine the whole world going dark every day of your life. Our human ancestors didn't even conquer fire until fairly recently I believe (correct me if I'm wrong). My house seems scarier to me when the lights are off. I presume that our ancestors on the African Savannah felt the same way when their house went dark.