My book, Laterality: Exploring the enigma of left-handedness, was published on January 4, 2016. After the publication of my book, I started this blog with an average of 1-2 posts per month over the last 12 months. Each of my blog posts addresses a lingering question that left-handers have about their handedness. Inspiration for many of my blog posts has come from discussions on Facebook pages devoted to left-handedness and the concerns of left-handers. I have followed these Facebook groups for the last year not only to gain inspiration but to discover the major themes that dominate the thinking of left-handers about their handedness. Unfortunately, several themes about left-handedness that occur repeatedly on Facebook are based on myths. These myths are resistant to extinction regardless of the mounds of scientific evidence that dispute them. These left-handedness myths are the basis of my New Year resolutions for left-handers.
Resolution #1: As a left-hander, I resolve to remember that left-handers as a group are not more intelligent or creative than right-handers. Large population studies conducted in several different countries indicate that the IQ scores of right- and left-handers do not differ. Also, laboratory studies comparing the creativity scores of right- and left-handers reveal no differences between the 2 groups. Current scientific evidence supports the idea that left- and right-handers are similar in their intellectual and creative abilities.
Resolution #2: As a left-hander, I resolve to remember that left-handedness is not a marker for disease, disability or death. Left-handers as a group are not more prone to developing schizophrenia or other disabling conditions nor are they more likely to have a shorter lifespan than right-handers. The myth that left-handers die at a younger age than right-handers has been contradicted by the scientific literature for at least 25 years. Left-handedness is not a disability.
Resolution #3: As a left-hander, I resolve to remember that the presence of left- and right-handers in the same family is not unusual. Currently, scientists agree that the genetics of handedness are complex and that as many as 40 genetic sites may contribute to the formation of handedness side. Non-genetic environmental influences also affect handedness development. For these reasons, it is not surprising that the handedness of parents and their biological children or the handedness of biologically-related brothers and sisters may differ.
My 2016 blog archives contain posts discussing the scientific evidence surrounding each of these resolutions. If interested, search the archives to find the information of interest to you. Facebook has been criticized recently for failing to monitor the site for fake news stories. Facebook pages concerned with left-handedness have their share of fake news usually in the form of lists…7 things left-handers should fear or 10 things left-handers should be proud of. These lists are fun to read but often items on the list are either not confirmed or are actually refuted by scientific evidence. Left-handedness fascinates scientists in a number of fields and new research is being published every day. Left-handers…continue to seek information about left-handedness in 2017 and I’ll continue to write on the latest research findings related to left-handedness in my blog. Happy New Year and be confident that you WILL live long and prosper.