Study says lefties aren’t more creative after all

The idea that left-handed people are more creative has been around for decades

fueled by famous names like Leonardo da Vinci, Paul McCartney, and Lady Gaga

But a new study from Cornell University says the claim doesn't quite hold up

Researchers yzed more than a thousand studies going back a century and found no solid evidence linking left-handedness to greater creativity

In fact, in some cases, right-handed people actually perform better on creativity tests

The lead author, psychology professor Daniel Casasanto, says people often assume lefties are more creative because so many well-known artists and musicians are left-handed

And while artists and musicians did show a higher proportion of left-handers, other highly creative fields, such as architecture, did not

Left-handed people, in fact, were underrepresented in many creative fields. that might surprise some since left-handers have long been seen as unique, in a good way

Dr. Mo Soon, a psychiatrist at Cassiobury Court in the UK, put it this way

historically being left-handed was seen as rare, and with that rarity came the idea of being

different, even gifted. She says there's long been this romantic idea that left-handers are

naturally more artistic or creative. But the stereotypes haven't always been positive

Psychology Today points out some common myths, like the idea that lefties are more introverted have weaker immune systems or are more likely to commit crimes And in some parts of the world those ideas still have real consequences In China for example even though 10 to 12 of people are born left

many are still pressured to switch to their right hand. Casasanto says the myth of lefty creativity may be tied to what he calls left-handed exceptionalism

The idea that since both left-handedness and creative genius are rare, people assume they're connected

He also points to the classic tortured artist image, linking left-handedness with both creativity and mental illness

Mosun says the new research offers a fresh perspective, explaining, In reality, what this new research shows is that left-handed people aren't inherently more creative

But that doesn't take away from their individuality. Creativity is shaped by so many factors, environment, education, culture, rather than our dominant hand

Now that's not to say lefties are out of advantages. In sports, left-handed southpaws can be harder to train against

Lefty hitters in baseball are physically closer to first base and face more right-handed pitchers, a favorable matchup

And American tennis pro Ben Shelton, currently vying for his first Wimbledon title

says being left-handed gives him an edge because opponents are less familiar with his playing style

So science says lefties like me aren't more creative. But if you ask me, we're still in the league of our own

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Simone del Rosario. For the unbiased straight facts, download the Straight Arrow News app