Skip to main content Skip to section menu

Myths about handedness

Handedness is completely inherited

Nope. Left handers out there will tell you that this isn't true. The chcance of a child being left handed is about 25% if both parents are lefties; drops to about 7 or 8% if both parents are right handed. We think there is a genetic component, but it doesn't seem to work like eye colour, that is for sure.

Handedness is chance---a side is picked at random (or shaped by parents) and that becomes your favourite side

Nope. If this was the case, why wouldn't half of us be left handed? The proportions are roughly 90:10.

Left handedness is pathological

Complicated. Some evidence of increased incidence of left handedness in some learning difficulties and epilepsy but these studies are often underpowered (meaning they don't have enough people in them to make statistically sound judgments).

Left handers are gifted. After all many US Presidents are left handed.

http://www.anglonautes.com/history/hist_us_20_dates/us_20_21_pic_pres_truman_signs.jpgWell, some of you are probably gifted, but it probably isn't because of your handedness!  Are there really more presidents then 10% (Obama, Clinton, Bush (G.W.), Reagan (maybe switched), Ford but not  Carter, Nixon, Roosevelt, Humphrey…..Remember, rare things are noticeable; less rare things are not …. Some sources say Truman is left handed…was he forced to switch?

Site footer