Thread: Lefthanded more creative?

I've heard people saying that lefthanded people are 27% more creative than righthanded, because they use the right hemisphere more frequently, and it's there all the creative stuff is, I guess. So, if I practice writing with my lefthand like 20 minutes a day, will I get more creative?

And if you're righthanded, you're better in science and stuff, logical thinking. Because we use the left hemisphere more frequently. And if they train their right hand with writing they'll get smarter?

Just a thought.

Just out of curiosity, what exactly is "27% more creative" supposed to mean?

53.2 percent of statistics are made up on the spot

Heh. Giving a 'creativity percentage' figure is rather silly. Giving a 'creativity percentage' accurate to 1% is just dumb.

I think it's scientifically reasonable to claim that left handed people think in more artistic ways rather than mathematical.

For example, I know that a higher-than-normal proportion of those with synesthesia are left-handed, and people with synesthesia often tend to be better at creating art and music but not as good at logic and mathematics.

So it could well be that the right hemisphere of the brain has a higher balance of the creative function matter.

Originally Posted by Xei

Heh. Giving a 'creativity percentage' figure is rather silly. Giving a 'creativity percentage' accurate to 1% is just dumb.

I think it's scientifically reasonable to claim that left handed people think in more artistic ways rather than mathematical.

For example, I know that a higher-than-normal proportion of those with synesthesia are left-handed, and people with synesthesia often tend to be better at creating art and music but not as good at logic and mathematics.

So it could well be that the right hemisphere of the brain has a higher balance of the creative function matter.

I wouldn't say people with synesthesia are necessarily more creative, they just see and hear things that others do not, and so if they were to paint a landscape it would come out in a way that someone with "normal" senses wouldn't even imagine.

Yeah, you could say that; but objectively, more of them are artists, musicians, etcetera.

Originally Posted by Pyrofan1

53.2 percent of statistics are made up on the spot

I heard it was 87%

Originally Posted by skysaw

Just out of curiosity, what exactly is "27% more creative" supposed to mean?

Left handed people are generally more competent with there right Hemisphere of the brain.
It has been proven that this side is more abstract in nature. the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination: the need for creativity in modern industry; creativity in the performing arts.

Some of these different traits can be seen here;

Linear Vs. Holistic Processing

Logical Vs. Intuitive

Sequential Vs. Random Processing

Verbal Vs. Nonverbal Processing

Symbolic Vs. Concrete Processing

Reality-Based Vs. Fantasy-Oriented Processing

Originally Posted by Howie

Left handed people are generally more competent with there right Hemisphere of the brain.
It has been proven that this side is more abstract in nature. the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination: the need for creativity in modern industry; creativity in the performing arts.

Not sure why I was quoted for this response. My problem is not with the idea of being more creative, it is with the meaningless quantity "27%."

I have heard this, but how can you proove it?

Originally Posted by AdamA

I have heard this, but how can you proove it?

The proof is with brain imaging scans. FMRI and PET scans. Certain functions and activities are performed and that activity is shown on these scans.

Not sure why I was quoted for this response. My problem is not with the idea of being more creative, it is with the meaningless quantity "27%."

I don't think it is meaningless. Maybe not accurate. To me It is like trying to pinpoint levels of lucidity. It is just a benchmark. An educated guess.
We can see that the numbers are all over the place.

Originally Posted by skysaw

Just out of curiosity, what exactly is "27% more creative" supposed to mean?

This means that someone has concluded that 27% of left handed people are more creative.
You have been stuck there ever since.
Meanwhile discussion surrounding creativity has gone forward. Some talk of members own opinions and who they know, some insight on various scanning methods, how they would obtain these results have been mentioned.
We both agree that the wording can be misleading.

As more science uncovers and newer methods are obtained to gain more specific information about our brains unfolds, we can possibly begin to understand many of these vague attributes of our brains.
Will you still be stuck at 27%?

Just out of curiosity, what exactly is "27% more creative" supposed to mean?

Originally Posted by Howie

This means that someone has concluded that 27% of left handed people are more creative.

Absolutely it does not. "27% more creative" does not equal "27% of left handed people."

Isn't it important to know what we're discussing before we can go deep into a subject? The problem is evidenced by the fact that you made an assumption about the meaning of the phrase that clearly is not what it is saying. By my estimate, you misread it by 38% making the whole thread 14% more confusing.

Please excuse me now. I must call my wife, who is 5% more lovely than she was the day we met.

You mean that out of 100 people that all of them would be 27% more creative as it was stated? Where as I was assuming that out of one hundred people that only 27% are more creative?
My deductive reasoning is lacking. But I do not know the percent.

I'm an analytical fuckwad and I'm left-handed, so if there's some rule of left-handedness out there I'm proof that there are exceptions to it. This isn't to say that I'm not (or at least haven't been in the past) creative, but when I am creative it tends to funnel out into high-order processes like piecing together nuggets of philosophy or arranging points in a plot arc... playing with meanings and abstractions rather forms and figures.

statistically, the results hold their own. There is a massive amount of evidence that left handed people are more creative. A large portion of people in Hollywood, whether they be actors, producers, or writers are left handed. The right side of the brain, associated with spontaniety and creativity, also control the left side of the body. There is a corrolation btwn left handed people and creativity. its not just made up.

Originally Posted by LBT Petrie

statistically, the results hold their own. There is a massive amount of evidence that left handed people are more creative. A large portion of people in Hollywood, whether they be actors, producers, or writers are left handed. The right side of the brain, associated with spontaniety and creativity, also control the left side of the body. There is a corrolation btwn left handed people and creativity. its not just made up.

Nobody here said the corrolation was made up, at least I never did. I never challenged the notion that lefties are more creative, only that you can't measure creativity in percentages. In short, the corrolation is likely true, but "27% more creative" is not true, nor false, nor even an "opinion." It is simply meaningless.

I'm honestly sorry if this sticking point is making it difficult to discuss the basic premise of lefties vs. righties, but statistics must have meaning, damn it! I'm interested in the subject too, but if some study makes the claim the OP put forth, I will dismiss it without reading reading further, because it is excruciatingly clear that the author has no concept of statistical meaning.

Yeah I dunno who came up with 27%? Did they really need to give us a number. They coulda just said, "Lefties more creative" and that would have been that.

Please excuse me now. I must call my wife, who is 5% more lovely than she was the day we met.

Sweet, boob job?

:p

Alright people, I'm right handed, creative in many areas of... creativity - and this whole study about the lefty/rightie thing really doesn't bother me and shouldn't be an issue with anyone. If it's true, then hell - that makes me even BETTER than a lefty because I was able to overcome my 'handicap' and become as creative (if not more) than other lefty's. If it's false, well, then there's nothing to discuss.

Lefty's and Righties should spend more time doing this ---->

And less time doing this --->

(as you can see, it takes BOTH hands to do )

I get skysaws point. The issue isnt whether or not lefties are more creative than righties, its how exactly one goes about quantifying creativity. As of now, "27% more creative" means nothing because we do not know how "creativity" is being measured, which debases the relevence of the figure "27%". Is it:

-Lefties have 27% more right hemispherical brain activity than righties?
-There are 27% more lefties than righties professions considered "creative"?
-etc.


"27% more creative" means nothing until you idenitify how creativity is being measured. Until then, 27% is just an empty statistic. A value can only be assigned to that which is measurable. So how exactly is creativity being measured?

Thanks for the acknowledgement, Ethen.

I hope that isn't the sound of the merry-go-round starting up again...

Originally Posted by Tornado Joe

Sweet, boob job?

I'm sure a good boob job would count for more than just a 5% increase.

Originally Posted by Xaqaria

I'm sure a good boob job would count for more than just a 5% increase.

Good boob job = 10%, bad haircut = -5% ... net gain 5%

(Just an example... my wife doesn't have either )