Are left-handers more creative than their right-handed peers? In my research, I’ve found that left-handers think more creatively because their brains work differently than right-handed peoples’ brains do. So, what does that mean? Well, it appears that as far as creative endeavors, there doesn’t seem to be a difference in righties or lefties either one. The way a lefty thinks is the reason they seem more creative.
Lefties living in a world designed for right-handed people have to have creative solutions
Former UCLA associate professor Charlotte Reznick, Ph.D. (who is left-handed herself), is also a child educational psychologist. The author says that this small population uniquely sees the world. To be specific, left-handers’ right brain is usually dominant. That is where creativity and intuition are centered, so that is why left-handers find it easier to be creative rather than logical. Left-handers’ brain hemispheres work better together, which makes them more flexible in their thinking.
Lefties are used to challenges
Reznick is the daughter of two right-handed parents. She states that she didn’t realize her left-hand was dominant until she went to school. Reznick found writing quite hard with the pencil in her right hand, but her teacher finally placed the pencil in her left hand, and she was able to learn to write more quickly. She states her parents had no clue she was left-handed because they were both righties. She can do most tasks with both hands but is stronger on her right side for most sports. When it comes to writing and creative aspects of her work, she is one hundred percent lefty. Her studies have found that the ability to move between both sides of our body is common in left-handers, and it’s one of the ways lefties work strategically. Because left-handers have grown up with challenges living in a right-handed world, we tend to be adept at adjusting to this world.
Creative Intuition
Lefties approach problem-solving with an innate ability rather than logical solutions like their right-handed peers. Left-handers tend to get a feel for a situation or problem. Intuition seems to be a left-handed superpower. They can read into any given situation or problem given and come up with a solution that may be more creative or outside the box. I agree with this summation. I find I can see or read what needs to be done and come up with a solution that will help all involved or make something work that seems impossible.
Lefties follow their intuition or gut reaction more than logical steps. It can be challenging for left-handers to find the logical path. There might not be many more left-handed artists than right-handed, but lefty artists, musicians, writers, and other creatives may find these paths easier than their right-handed peers because they follow their intuition. Intuition, in my experience, never lies. I’ve gone against my instinct and paid for it.
Left-handers process information quicker, and they are more independent
Lefties have a knack for connecting both sides of their brain, so they tend to process information quicker than their right-handed peers. They seem to catch onto new tasks quickly and with fewer trials.
Left-handers are more independent than their right-handed counterparts because they have had to adapt to life in a right-hand-dominated world. I’ve always been independent and would instead work alone than with a group. I never fit into groups, anyway. Not only am I left-handed, but I’ve always been shy and extra sensitive as well.
Brain lateralization and handedness
The brain‘s right hemisphere does control the left side of the body. Each hemisphere has its specialties. For example, language is processed more in the left hemisphere, and recognizing faces is more in the right hemisphere. The thinking that each brain hemisphere is specialized is known as brain lateralization. This idea doesn’t mean each side works alone. On the contrary, they are connected by a thick band of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum that allows them to work beside each other.
What does this mean in the context of creativity? As I wrote above, left-handers may not be more creative in drawing a picture or writing a story, but they think more creatively. This way of thought is called divergent thinking.
The specialties between brain hemispheres differ in right-handers and left-handers. It is often stated that right-handers are left-brain dominant so, it was thought that left-handers were always right-brain dominant. The brain doesn’t work this way, and each person thinks in different ways depending on their handedness. Both righties and lefties use both hemispheres of the brain. Otherwise, why would we have two hemispheres to our brains?
More on brain hemispheres and handedness
Even though our hands are mirror images of each other, evidence shows some asymmetry in their functions. This evidence also suggests that the left and right hemispheres of the brain have various functions. There are times that both hemispheres work together. It appears that left-handers’ brains have an easier time working together. Both physiological and psychological processes are included in these functions.
Many left-handers’ brains don’t split these specializations like right-handers’ brains. Left-handed people end up having what they call mixed disciplines. What does this mean? Well, it means that the left-hander’s brain may use the opposite side of the brain for certain functions than they have previously found. Instead of the right side of the brain controlling emotions, the left-hander’s left side takes care of that function.
Brain functions are ever-changing. These processes can move from a damaged part of the brain to another to continue to function. They can also create shortcuts until the brain has healed from trauma, and then the function can return to its original place.
Conclusion
What does the above information have to do with left-handers being more creative than their right-handed counterparts? It shows how their brains function compared to right-handers. Left-handers tend to think creatively. What does that mean? It means that left-handers think outside the box. They come up with ideas and solutions that a logically minded right-hander might not. Left-handers appear to be more intuitive. They can read between the lines. So, are left-handers more creative than their right-handed peers? Yes and No. No, because they don’t draw, sing, play an instrument, or paint better or more creatively than right-handers. Yes, because they think more creatively than their right-handed peers. They can come up with solutions to problems a right-hander might not. They may find ways to paint, draw, etc., in a different way than right-handers making them seem more creative. I hope that this article answers the question, are left-handers more creative. Let us know below in the comments. Is there something you’ve observed that proves or disproves the idea that left-handers think more creatively than right-handers? We’d love to hear from you.