Almost 90% of people have a dominant The left brain knows what the right hand is doing right hand, the rest have a left hand. And only about 1% of the population are ambidextrous. They perform all tasks equally well with both hands.
There are also people who change hands for different tasks. For example, they write with their right hand, but throw the ball with their left. This is called mixed hand dominance. It occurs quite often when playing musical instruments. For example, guitarists, pianists and drummers successfully use both hands when playing. Only each of them is trained for different actions.
These people are not ambidextrous. They will still have difficulty writing or eating with their non-dominant hand. Ambidextrous people do not have such difficulties: it is equally easy for them to hammer a nail, brush their teeth or hit a tennis ball with both their right and left hands.
Definition of the concept
Ambidexterity, what is it? There is such a concept – “leading hand” . This means that a person has one hand that functions more actively.
There are significantly more right-handed people all over the world: people who write, cut, eat and do many other things with their right hand.
There are fewer left-handers, although not as few as statistics show: a huge number of left-handers have simply been retrained to be more “convenient” for the education system.
And there are also people for whom it is impossible to identify this very “leading hand”. They cope equally well with basic actions with both the right and left hands. That's why they are called ambidextrous.
Ambidextrous:
- differ in that the functioning of both hands is equally developed,
- the speed and accuracy of actions performed with both hands are identical,
- may have innate abilities or acquired abilities for the equivalent functioning of the hands.
An important point: the leading hand is only a noticeable consequence of the greater development of a certain hemisphere of the brain.
In right-handed people, the left hemisphere ( logical ) is more developed; in left-handed people, the right hemisphere ( intuitive-feeling ) is more developed. Consequently, ambidextrous people have both hemispheres equally and harmoniously developed.
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Psychological characteristics of ambidextrous people
At the moment, a large number of the adult population are either right-hemisphere or left-hemisphere in their brain function.
How to identify right or left asymmetry in a person:
- on eye function (brain activity);
- dominant eye (during shooting);
- auditory canal (to which ear the phone is most often applied);
- hand function (which hand holds various instruments);
- by leg movements (which one starts the movement or which one hits the ball)
In order to identify the psychological characteristics of a person who owns both hands, it is necessary to trace the characteristics of a person who owns his right hand and a person who owns his left hand.
Basic psychological traits of a left-hander
A person who controls only his left hand is often a supporter of changes that are progressive in nature. He can look at old things from a completely new point of view.
Psychologically, such a person is very emotional, prone to nervous breakdowns, and also has pronounced individualism, selfishness and stubbornness.
In work and creative activities he always achieves high results, but at the same time he is very poorly oriented in space.
Basic psychological traits of a right-handed person
Often, a right-handed person is guided by public opinion, and not by stereotypes. The predominant character trait is conservatism, and also has such traits as integrity, reliability, phasing, predictability.
The psychological behavior of a right-hander can be considered stable, characterized by emotional dryness, reluctance to argue, quarrel and create conflict situations.
Most often he achieves success in areas that require precision and accuracy, and is capable of imaginative and analytical thinking.
Basic psychological traits of a person who can use both hands
A multifaceted personality type with remarkable intuitive and creative abilities, superbly developed intellectual abilities, and analytical thinking.
This psychological type achieves only high results in any activity and reaches new levels, thereby expanding the horizon of knowledge.
If serious educational problems arise that are associated with such a phenomenon as ambidexterity, you must definitely contact a professional psychologist.
It is also worth saying that a person who owns both hands thinks in images, that is, what he cannot imagine, he cannot comprehend and understand.
This is why ambidextrous people begin to have problems in high school, since visual material is used less and less during the lesson.
As a result, such children are considered too slow. Children who use both hands need to be given more attention in order to prevent the emergence of difficulties associated with the learning process in time.
If at the age of five a child develops feelings such as fear or apprehension, then it is necessary to immediately contact a specialist.
Acquired and congenital
The most interesting thing is that all children are ambidextrous .
To be more precise, all children under the age of 4-5 years are able to work with equal success with both their left and right hands.
This means that ambidexterity is not a feature , it is a physiological given of a person.
But due to the fact that a person lives and develops in a society with its own systems and institutions, orderliness, averageness, he is simply directed to the right area.
You should write with your right hand, eat too – the child is simply taught to do this . And the skill of the same development of action with the left hand fades away and becomes unnecessary.
A sane person understands that one hemisphere of the brain cannot be less important than the other. They are equal, and therefore it is important to use the capabilities of each.
But if it so happens that, according to social requirements, a child develops mainly one hemisphere, then he must harmonize the work of the two hemispheres himself. And, most importantly, it is possible.
Is it worth developing ambidexterity?
It is unknown exactly how learning this skill affects the brain. Although various trainings promise that using your non-dominant hand strengthens connections between neurons and increases creativity, there is no evidence of this.
Some scientists even believe that congenital ambidexterity is associated with problems in speech and reading, as well as attention deficit. It is believed that this is caused by competition between the cerebral hemispheres. Asymmetry evolved to allow each hemisphere to specialize in specific functions.
In the symmetrical brains of ambidextrous people, the hemispheres receive the same sensory information. And this may slow down the thinking process.
However, for now, these are all just hypotheses. There is no evidence that using the non-dominant hand will lead to psychological problems. Therefore, it's up to you to decide.
Which hand is better?
Ambidexterity concerns different systems of the human body. Not only can he write with both hands, he has no such thing as a sighting eye, a pushing foot, or a finely discerning ear. This is a huge advantage .
But not all ambidextrous people write absolutely well with both hands : yes, they can do it, they change hands easily, they don’t get lost if replaced, but in a 50/50 percentage ratio, only 1% of people on the planet have both hands.
Therefore, there are no clear statistics : for example, that abidextrous people still have a more developed right hand, or left. But there is definitely some advantage to one of their hands (read – one of the hemispheres).
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Psychology of left-handers, right-handers and ambidextrous people:
Many of them started out as lefties
Since the brain structures of abmidextras and left-handers are so similar, it is not surprising that one often starts out like the other. For many centuries, there was a prejudice against left-handed people, since the left hand, thanks to the Bible, was associated with witchcraft and demons. In English, the word sinister (sinister) comes from the Latin word sinistra, which originally meant "left." Many left-handers, from the Middle Ages to the twenty-first century, felt severe pressure to use their right hand, causing them to develop ambidexterity. However, some people become ambidextrous after suffering an injury to their dominant hand.
Famous ambidextrous celebrities
The most famous, probably, in this area is Gaius Julius Caesar.
For men, multitasking is generally rare; their psyche is rather single-channel; they can do many things, but only one at a time. And personalities such as the Roman emperor are exceptions.
Also among the famous ambidextrous people are:
- Maria Sharapova. The big-time sports star successfully plays with both his right and left hands. Perhaps these unique abilities allowed Masha to achieve such heights.
- Nikola Tesla . This Nobel laureate is also ambidextrous. Who knows, maybe the development of both hemispheres led to his revolutionary research into the magnetic field and alternating current.
- Tom Cruise . The most popular actor is also ambidextrous: perhaps this can explain the fact that Tom Cruise is so good at transforming into radically different characters.
- Till Lindemann . This is a famous multi-instrumentalist, star of the German group “Rammstein”. By the way, Thiel has mastered several professions at once, which once again emphasizes the special advantages of this psychological phenomenon.
Of course, there are not many ambidextrous people in the world. These people are of interest to researchers, scientists and psychologists, and just the average person.
That’s why such unique people often become heroes of exciting TV series.
It has now been established that ambidextrous people have many strengths.
Here are some facts about the abilities of ambidextrous people:
- — ability to make quick decisions;
- - many outstanding people were ambidextrous. Suffice it to name Leonardo da Vinci and Albert Einstein. This indicates unusual brain function;
- - such people have hyperactivity;
- - can draw or write the same thing with both hands at the same time;
- - IQ is higher than that of left-handers and right-handers;
- - ambidexterity can be congenital or acquired.
Ambidexterity, pros and cons
Ambidexter – is it good or bad ? Yes, oddly enough, this phenomenon also has disadvantages. But still, the benefits of ambidexterity are significant.
What are the advantages of ambidexterity :
- high performance of actions,
- the ability to quickly make the right decision,
- strong will + high intuition,
- success in multitasking conditions,
- quick assessment of the situation.
What are the disadvantages of ambidexterity :
- some absent-mindedness,
- possible neurasthenia,
- high self-criticism
- susceptibility to migraine pain,
- tearfulness,
- fast fatiguability,
- increased sensitivity, nervousness.
The second list is not mandatory conditions for ambidexterity, these are only predictable, possible traits inherent in these unique people.
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It may surprise you, but ambidextrous people tend to have more physical, rather than mental, abilities. This became known from the results of intelligence tests, in which they showed worse results than those people who have one main hand. In one Finnish study, eight thousand seven- and eight-year-old children took an intelligence test, and 87 of them were ambidextrous. In 90 percent of cases, they experienced more problems with tests, math problems, and learning foreign languages.
Problems in kindergarten and school
There is only one global problem: the fight against the system. Parents, smart and information savvy, are quite capable of creating an environment that will allow the child to develop in both directions and demonstrate his abilities.
But in school and kindergarten, a child can be “broken,” because he may need a special approach, and systemic education does not imply this.
Therefore, it is important for an ambidextrous child :
- so that teachers take into account their hyperactivity, turning a visible disadvantage into an undeniable advantage,
- understand that he is significant, that he is seen &ndash, he needs to be given public assignments, make ordinary tasks more difficult, celebrate successes,
- so that the teacher emotionally supports the child and maintains his psychological balance.
The most important thing is to eliminate any pressure in choosing the leading hand , as well as the method of achieving the result.
Re-teaching something if a child has already learned something is definitely harmful for the child; it puts a huge strain on his brain.
What to do if your child is ambidextrous? Expert comment:
Features of raising and working with ambidextrous children
Experts involved in raising young children have noticed that they are much more likely to exhibit ambidexterity. This means that the dominant hand in many children is not formed immediately, but at a later age. And often this is the age at which they begin to consciously copy the behavior of adults. The choice of the leading hand in children occurs either naturally and spontaneously, or under the influence of adults, primarily parents.
In past years, in our country, they tried to retrain ambidextrous people and left-handers, because their writing style was considered incorrect, and they themselves were considered “inferior.” Retraining not only did not benefit the child (and society), but also affected his mental and sometimes physical health.
As we have already said, “two-handedness” can be developed through training. And it is advisable to develop this skill in the early years, since it is more difficult to do this in adulthood. And there are people who are convinced that it would be a good idea to develop ambidexterity in all children, or at least in those who want to learn it. After all, ambidextrous people, simply put, think better. However, we indicated above that this phenomenon, like a coin, has two sides. Therefore, the best and most correct thing is to provide the child with the opportunity to develop independently in the direction in which he is comfortable.
Nowadays, in the most developed countries of the world, left-handers and ambidextrous people are no longer retrained. Moreover, many believe that left-handers and ambidextrous people are “special” people - more talented, intellectually advanced. This is also a controversial statement, but it is better than groundless harassment of people who write with the “wrong hand.”
In our time, left-handed people and ambidextrous people are retrained only in countries with a pronounced traditional way of life. For example, these are Muslim countries; in the Islamic religion, the left hand is considered “unclean”, so it is allowed to perform only “dirty” actions - for example, washing; Only the right hand is considered “clean”, and it is prescribed to perform all vital actions - taking food, writing, etc.
Ambidextrous children, however, have certain internal problems. They tend to switch between hemispheres, so to speak. Therefore, their behavior may be unpredictable and their school grades may be inconsistent. For example, today an ambidextrous child made the bed, but did not remove the toys from the floor, and tomorrow he will do the opposite - he will remove the toys, but will not make the bed. Today he very quickly understood the condition of a mathematical problem and successfully solved it, but tomorrow he may completely forget how it is solved and will not be able to cope with a similar problem.
What should parents do in this case? The answer is simple: they need to understand the developmental characteristics of their child and not find fault with them. Time will pass, and he will learn to understand his motives and inclinations, problems in education and behavior will be smoothed out, and the child himself will be able to demonstrate some outstanding abilities. Of course, this does not happen immediately; for many teenagers, both hemispheres begin to fully function only by the ninth grade.
Is it possible to become ambidextrous?
According to neurophysiologists, brain development continues up to 60 years . Up to fifty, there is a clear hemispheric separation, but at sixty a person is already able to simultaneously and equally well use the capabilities of both hemispheres.
And he can do this even more successfully than in his youth. Therefore, it is possible to become ambidextrous: but this is work, training, these are exercises that need to be done every day.
What’s interesting: there are several global companies where the employer’s requirement is employee ambidexterity.
They ask their subordinates to develop both hemispheres, because, as a rule, ambidextrous people excel as marketers, creative managers, and analysts .
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Is it possible to form and develop the ability to work with both hands?
Since scientists distinguish two types of ambidexterity - congenital and acquired, independent development in the use of two hands at the same time is possible at the moment.
This requires a hand that is not the main one (for a right-hander - the left, for a left-hander - the right), to force it to perform work and, in general, all the functions of the leading hand.
Often, the process of independent development of ambidexterity is used by athletes in order to achieve better results in sports activities.
Also, many scientists wonder whether acquired ambidexterity skills can improve mental activity, and whether exercises and tasks to develop one of the hands can help in the further learning process.
Whether your right or left hand works best is one of the deepest mysteries of neuroscience. Much of the population knows little about what it means for the brain to be left- or right-handed, or how the brain affects learned ambidexterity.
In fact, all people are born ambidextrous, but in the process of learning and development, generally by the age of four a person becomes right-handed or left-handed, that is, the process of predominance of one of the two hemispheres occurs.
Ambidexterity abilities can be formed and developed independently.
But scientists know one thing: it is impossible to completely replace the innate ability to use both hands at the same time, since you can only partially learn to use two hands, but it will not be possible to completely replace one of the leading ones.
In this view you will learn more about ambidexterity:
Why does ambidexterity occur, signs?
Observations have shown that a change in the course of typical development of ambidexters occurs even at the stage of fetal development in the womb. In other words, even before birth it is predetermined whether the child will be “unique” or not.
In the first trimesters of pregnancy, the fetus develops more of the right hemisphere of the brain. Over time, the left one catches up in development, and immediately a few weeks before birth, it dominates the right. If the fetus lacked oxygen, any abnormalities occurred, or premature birth occurred, there is a greater likelihood of ambidexterity or left-handedness. Relatively speaking, if the development and birth of the fetus does not go according to plan, the likelihood of ambidexterity increases.
Amazingly, only 0.40% of the world's population has ambidexterity. Moreover, approximately half of people have acquired this gift - they deliberately develop the ability and ability to work with both hands. For what? Read on!
