Environmental factors in hand preference formation: Evidence from attempts to switch the preferred hand (original) (raw)

Abstract

We surveyed 650 young adults to assess both their current handedness behaviors and past attempts to shift their hand preference. We found that 73 (11.2%) individuals had experienced hand preference change attempts and 52 (8.0%) had undergone pressure to switch hand preference to the right. The likelihood that an individual had experienced pressure to change hand use was not related significantly to gender or to a number of familial factors. However, the success of the hand change varied with gender; females reported greater success in shifting their handedness.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

• Get 10 units per month
• Download Article/Chapter or eBook
• 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
• Cancel anytime Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

• Annett, M. (1972). The distribution of manual asymmetry.Br. J. Psychol. 63:343–358.
  PubMed Google Scholar
• Ashton, G. C. (1982). Handedness: An alternative hypothesis.Behav. Genet. 12:125–147.
  PubMed Google Scholar
• Bryden, M. P. (1982).Laterality: Functional Asymmetry in the Intact Brain, Academic Press, San Diego.
  Google Scholar
• Carlyle, T. (1884). Diary for June 15, 1871. In Froide, J. A. (ed.),Thomas Carlyle, Vol. 2, Longmans Green, London.
  Google Scholar
• Carter-Saltzman, L. (1980). Biological and sociocultural effects on handedness: Comparison between biological and adoptive families.Science 209:1263–1265.
  PubMed Google Scholar
• Corballis, M. C. (1980). Is left-handedness genetically determined? In Herron, J. (ed.),Neuropsychology of Left-handedness, Academic Press, New York.
  Google Scholar
• Corballis, M. C. (1983).Human Laterality, Academic Press, San Diego.
  Google Scholar
• Corballis, M. C., and Beale, I. L. (1983).The Ambivalent Mind, Nelson-Hall, Chicago.
  Google Scholar
• Coren, S., and Porac, C. (1978). The validity and reliability of self-report items for the measurement of lateral preference.Br. J. Psychol. 69:207–211.
  Google Scholar
• Coren, S., Porac, C., and Duncan, P. (1979). A behaviorally validated self-report inventory to assess four types of lateral preference.J. Clin. Neuropsychol. 1:55–64.
  Google Scholar
• Dawson, J. L. M. B. (1977). Anthropological perspective on the evolution and lateralization of the brain.Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 299:424–447.
  PubMed Google Scholar
• Falek, A. (1959). Handedness: A family study.Am. J. Hum. Genet. 11:52–62.
  PubMed Google Scholar
• Fincher, J. (1977).Sinister People, Putnam, New York.
  Google Scholar
• Gough, H. G. (1949). A short social status inventory.J. Ed. Psychol. 40:52–56.
  Google Scholar
• Gough, H. G. (1971). A cluster analysis of home index status items.Psychol. Rep. 28:923–929.
  Google Scholar
• Hildreth, G. (1949). The development and training of hand dominance, I–III.J. Genet. Psychol. 75:197–275.
  PubMed Google Scholar
• Jackson, J. (1905).Ambidexterity or Two-handedness and Two-brainedness, Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, London.
  Google Scholar
• Leiber, L., and Axelrod, S. (1981). Intra-familial learning is only a minor factor in manifest handedness.Neuropsychol. 19:273–288.
  Google Scholar
• Levy, J. (1974). Psychobiological implications of bilateral asymmetry. In Dimond, S., and Beaumont, J. G. (eds.),Hemisphere Function in the Human Brain, Paul Elek, London.
  Google Scholar
• Marrion, V. L. (1983).Hand Use, Preference and Proficiency: A Cross-cultural Comparison of Kwakiutl and Caucasian Samples, Unpublished master's thesis, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C.
  Google Scholar
• Porac, C., and Coren, S. (1981).Lateral Preferences and Human Behavior, Springer-Verlag, New York.
  Google Scholar
• Porac, C., Coren, S., and Duncan, P. (1980). Life-span age trends in laterality.J. Gerontol. 35:715–721.
  PubMed Google Scholar
• Shaw, S. (1902). Right-handedness and left-brainedness.Lancet 2:1486.
  Google Scholar
• Teng, E. L., Lee, P., Yang, K., and Chang, P. C. (1976). Handedness in a Chinese population: Biological, social and pathological factors,Science 193:1148–1150.
  PubMed Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, V8W 2Y2, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
   Clare Porac
2. Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2075 Wesbrook Mall, V6T 1Y7, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
   Stanley Coren
3. Department of Psychology, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, New York
   Alan Searleman

Authors

1. Clare Porac
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
2. Stanley Coren
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
3. Alan Searleman
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This research was supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the University of Victoria Committee on Faculty Research and Travel, and St. Lawrence University. We thank T. Gallagher, B. Kovar, K. Salter, W. Wong, and K. Wright for their assistance in data collection and T. Allen for his assistance in data analysis.

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Porac, C., Coren, S. & Searleman, A. Environmental factors in hand preference formation: Evidence from attempts to switch the preferred hand.Behav Genet 16, 251–261 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01070800

Download citation

• Received: 30 August 1984
• Accepted: 06 May 1985
• Issue Date: March 1986
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01070800

Key Words