Writing Hand may Dictate Body Perception
November 16th, 2009 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Headline
Whether one writes with the left or the right hand has been suggested to have an impact on various personality traits and other aspects of the life of the mind, but a study recently performed at the University of Virginia with collaborators from other colleges has found that this seemingly simple characteristic can have a great influence over body image. Participants in the study were asked to estimate the lengths of their arms, and to guess how far they could reach with either limb. Left-handed participants tended to rate both arms as being of equal length and reaching ability, but those who were right-handed scored their right arms as being significantly longer and more able than their left arms. The research may inspire further inquiry into how body usage affects perception, in turn helping mental health professionals to gain insight about their clients.
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6 comments so far
I have heard of something similar before… as we all know, the left half of our brain controls the right half of the body and vice-versa. So if a person is left handed, it means the right half of his brain is more developed than the left and as each half of our brain is associated with different qualities, it results in the writing hand determining the traits or qualities… :)
Interesting how even the hand that is used dor writing can determine the traits and others things about a person. Humans are very complex indeed…
I not only am right handed but also right footed. I cannot do anything harddly with the left foot or hand the way that I can with the right. I just never developed the finesse with the left, and I guess it is because I always tend to rely on the right so completely! I am sure that I think of myse;f as way stronger with the right hand and foot than I do with the left and with very good reason. Lefties seem to be more comfortable when they have to use their right hands for something because everything is so right hand driven that they have had to learn how to do that whereas I never have to use my left hand because everything is designed to accommodate me.
It is also said that left handed people live 8 years lesser than right handed folks on an average.. this spooked me out because I’m a left hander! ;)
I have a friend who can write with both his hands… Am quite in awe of his capability… :)
I went to India recently and visited what is called the iron pillar in Delhi. They say if u can wrap ur arms around it and hold your palms together and make a wish, then anything is possible. My tour guide told me i.e folklore but the real deal is that very few people have arms that long and those who do are more skillful workers.