World Left-Handers Day: Curiosities and Myths

At the initiative of an American organization of left-handers, we have been celebrating left-handers, who make up nearly 15 percent of the Earth’s population, on August 13 every year since 1992. Social norms were coercive for left-handers until the middle of the 20th century and required them to become accustomed to using the other hand, but left-handedness has now become fully accepted. So much so that nowadays, consumer items designed specifically for left-handers are also available to make their lives easier. 

There are many misconceptions about left-handedness to this day, and there are plenty of interesting facts about the phenomenon. We have collected some of these. 

1. Their right hemisphere is not more active

Gina Grimshaw, director of Welington University in New Zealand, says it’s just a myth that left-handers use their right hemisphere more. Like right-handers, 78 percent of left-handers have a more active left hemisphere in the same way.

2. Detectable during pregnancy

A British study has shown that women who give birth to a left-handed child will instinctively touch their face several times with their left hand during pregnancy. Other studies have highlighted that babies born to older mothers and premature babies are also more likely to be left-handed.

Babies born to older mothers and premature babies are more likely to be left-handed SOURCE: SHUTTERSTOCK

The chance of left-handedness

Your child is twice as likely to be left-handed if you are born a boy, however, if you and your partner are both right-handed, the probability is still around 2 percent, but if you are both left-handed, that number can be as high as 50 percent. There are statistics that the older a mother is, the more likely she is to have a left-handed child.

3. They are not as introverted as previously thought

Left-handers have developed a stereotype that they are aloof and self-righteous. A 2013 study examined this assumption and found no clear correlation, however, found that “two-handeds” were indeed more likely to turn inward.

 4. They are more prone to mental illness

According to research from Yale and Texas Universities, the majority of people with brain problems are left-handed. Of the 107 participants studied, 11 percent of those with bipolar disorder and 40 percent of patients with schizophrenia were left-handed. 

5. Several of them are the artist

Left-handers are more likely to hear rapidly changing voices, are better artists, more creative, and think more diverse.

6. They are more timid, find it hard to bear criticism

Research by Abertay Univeristy found that left-handers were more likely to have dyslexia or attention deficit disorder, and also highlighted that left-handers were less likely to dare to cut into something because they were afraid of making mistakes, had more difficulty with criticism, and were more timid.

According to research by Abertay Univeristy, left-handers are more likely to have dyslexia or attention deficit SOURCE: SHUTTERSTOCK

5. Do they drink more than others? 

The claim that left-handers like to drink better than right-handers has held on for a long time. One study looked at 27,000 people, and a study based on individual confession found that left-handers were indeed more likely to look at the bottom of a glass often, but it does not follow clearly that they were more likely to become alcoholics.

6. Several of them are geniuses

Although they make up only 15 percent of society, 20 percent of MENSA members are left-handed. Some say this suggests that left-handers are more likely to be geniuses.

7 It does not affect our personality what kind of guarantors we are

Ronald Yeo, a researcher at the University of Texas-Austin, says there are no skyrocketing differences between right- and left-handers when it comes to curiosities and facts. Their personalities, habits, and identities are not affected by which hand they use.

Acquired left-handedness

There is also the phenomenon of acquired left-handedness: if the right hand is injured to such an extent that it is necessary to rest for a long time, it is possible that the person will use his left hand more often in everyday life after recovery.

Left-handed celebrities

Left-handed was the famous general, Alexander the Great; the composer Ludwig van Beethoven, Sándor Petőfi, Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci and Napoleon.

But left-handed Lady Gaga, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Mary-Kate Olsen, Jeremy Renner and Hugh Jackman, as well as Prince William.