A recent study from Cornell University challenges the long-held belief that left-handed individuals are inherently more creative than their right-handed counterparts. The research, led by psychology professor Daniel Casasanto and published in the Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, synthesises over a century of studies examining the relationship between handedness and creativity.
The investigation analysed nearly 1,000 scientific papers, ultimately narrowing down to 17 studies that met specific criteria. These studies revealed that handedness does not significantly impact performance on common tests of divergent thinking, which measures creativity. In fact, some evidence suggests that right-handed individuals may have a slight advantage in certain laboratory tests.
Key findings from the study include:
- Underrepresentation of Left-Handers: Left-handed individuals, who represent approximately 10% of the population, are underrepresented in the most creative professions, according to a large analysis of U.S. government survey data from nearly 12,000 individuals across over 770 occupations. This analysis ranked professions by their creativity, revealing that left-handers are less common in fields requiring high creativity, such as physics and mathematics.
- Exceptions in Art and Music: While left-handed individuals are overrepresented among artists and musicians, this is not the case for other creative fields, such as architecture. This selective overrepresentation has led to the perpetuation of the myth that left-handed people are generally more creative.
- Myths of the “Tortured Artist”: The study suggests that the misconception linking left-handedness with creativity may stem from the idea of “left-handed exceptionalism,” where the rarity of left-handedness is conflated with creativity. Additionally, left-handed individuals often experience higher rates of mental health issues, which can contribute to the stereotype of the “tortured artist.”
Casasanto concluded, “The claim of left-handed creativity is simply not supported,” urging a more nuanced understanding of how creativity is distributed across different populations.
This research invites a re-evaluation of the assumptions surrounding handedness and creativity, emphasising the need for broader perspectives when considering the factors that contribute to creative success.
For more details, read the full article here: Why are lefties more creative? Turns out, they’re not.
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