Are Left-Handers More Creative? Science Says No
Summary: Despite the widespread belief that left-handers are naturally more creative, a 100-year review of scientific studies says otherwise. A comprehensive meta-analysis led by Cornell University psychologist Daniel Casasanto found no consistent creative edge for lefties. In fact, right-handers slightly outperform lefties on standard tests of divergent thinking. The myth likely survives due to statistical cherry-picking and the romanticised link between artistry, mental illness, and left-handedness.
Are Left-Handers More Creative? Here’s What 100 Years of Science Say
Can your dominant hand predict how creative you are? For years, the idea that left-handed people are more creative has sparked intrigue and even admiration. From famous artists and musicians to out-of-the-box thinkers, many lefties have been glorified as inherently imaginative.
But now, a comprehensive review of over 100 years of research led by Cornell University psychologist Dr. Daniel Casasanto brings some surprising clarity:
- Left-handed people are not more creative than right-handed people.
In fact, in some cases,
- Right-handers may hold a small advantage in creative performance, especially in certain lab-based tests of divergent thinking.
The Science Behind Handedness and Creativity
The study, titled “Handedness and Creativity: Facts and Fictions,” is published in the Psychonomic Bulletin and Review. Casasanto’s team conducted a meta-analysis of nearly 1,000 scientific papers published since 1900, with a laser focus on the relationship between handedness and divergent thinking, a hallmark of creativity that involves generating multiple solutions to a problem.
Of the thousand studies reviewed, only 17 met the criteria for standardised data reporting and inclusion of both left- and right-handed participants. These studies provided about 50 effect sizes for comparison.
What Did the Meta-Analysis Reveal?
- No consistent advantage was found for left-handers in the three most common tests of divergent thinking.
- In some cases, right-handed individuals performed slightly better.
- The overall evidence does not support the idea that lefties are inherently more creative.
“If you look at the literature on the whole,” Casasanto states, “this claim of left-handed creativity is simply not supported.”
But Wait - Why Has This Myth Persisted?
So, how did this widespread belief take root and survive for so long? Casasanto and his team identify a few key psychological and cultural culprits:
1. Left-Handed Exceptionalism
Being left-handed is rare (around 10% of the population), just like being a creative genius. When two rare traits occasionally overlap, such as a famous left-handed painter, it feels meaningful, but it may be coincidence.
2. The Tortured Artist Trope
There’s a long-standing cultural association between mental illness, creativity, and being left-handed. Research shows that left-handed individuals may experience higher rates of depression and schizophrenia, especially in artistic fields. This fuels the “myth of the tortured artist.”
3. Cherry-Picked Statistics
Many studies have highlighted creative fields like art and music where left-handers seem to be overrepresented. But broader, unbiased surveys across various professions do not show this same pattern.
Casasanto explains: “The focus on art and music, where lefties are overrepresented, is a tempting statistical error. When you include other fields, the illusion fades.”
The Brain Hemisphere Argument - Does It Hold?
A common argument in favor of left-handed creativity is that lefties use their right brain more, and the right hemisphere is traditionally associated with creativity. But this generalisation oversimplifies the complex and shared roles both hemispheres play in cognition.
Also, divergent thinking isn’t solely governed by one hemisphere; it involves multiple brain networks, many of which are equally active in both left- and right-handed individuals.
Conclusion: Handedness Doesn’t Predict Creativity
The idea that lefties are uniquely creative makes for great storytelling, but the science doesn’t back it up. After reviewing a century of research:
- There is no scientific evidence that left-handers are more creative.
- Right-handers may even slightly outperform in specific creativity tests.
- The lefty creativity myth is a product of cherry-picking, coincidence, and cultural bias.
Take Away
Don’t judge a person’s creativity by their dominant hand. Instead, look at their ideas, their passions, and how they apply their thinking, because creativity, it turns out, is handed out pretty evenly.
Dane
I am an MBBS graduate and a dedicated medical writer with a strong passion for deep research and psychology. I enjoy breaking down complex medical topics into engaging, easy-to-understand content, aiming to educate and inspire readers by exploring the fascinating connection between health, science, and the human mind.
