Posted by zeugma on December 22, 2005, at 17:22:14
In reply to Re: survival instinct » alexandra_k, posted by zeugma on December 22, 2005, at 16:11:20
look at this fascinating take on the subject:
Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain, and Cognition
Publisher: Psychology Press, part of the Taylor & Francis Group
Issue: Volume 9, Number 4 / October 2004
Pages: 433 - 447
URL: Linking Options
DOI: 10.1080/13576500342000266Interhemispheric interaction and beliefs on our origin: Degree of handedness predicts beliefs in creationism versus evolution
Christopher Lee Niebauer A1, Stephen D. Christman A2, Scott A. Reid A3, Kilian J. Garvey A4A1 Slippery Rock University, PA, USA
A2 University of Toledo, OH, USA
A3 University of Texas, Brownsville, TX, USA
A4 The University of New England, Biddeford, ME, USA
Abstract:
It has been suggested that strongly handed individuals have attenuated systems for updating beliefs compared to mixed handers (Niebauer, Aselage, & Schutte, 2002). The current research extended this theory to individual differences in updating beliefs concerning our origins. Although the theory of evolution has gained overwhelming success in the sciences, a significant percentage of the population believes in biblical creationist accounts of human origins that are inconsistent with accepted, contemporary scientific views. If strongly handed individuals possess attenuated systems for updating beliefs, they might be more likely to believe in creationism. In two studies, strongly handed participants were more likely to believe in creationism while mixed-handed participants were more likely to believe in evolution. A model of how interhemispheric interaction functions in maintaining and updating beliefs is discussed. Specifically, mixed-handedness seems to be associated with a lower threshold for updating beliefs.
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I have very mixed handedness. I suppose I'm technically ambidextrous, though not dextrous, if you know what I mean. The authors say that that this is not an unmitigated blessing- for them the non-dominant hemisphere functions as an 'anomaly detector' and tries to constantly refute whatever is accepted as being not up to date enough. Well there are plenty of anomalies to be found, and sometimes I feel like they get me too bothered- better sometimes to stick with received wisdom, i suppose- though i can't be sincere when i say that. At all.Blake and Hume are temperamental and philosophical opposites, but they were equal outcasts from the establishments of their day, and no doubt neither would take these speculations on handedness on faith. It would be interesting however to wonder if their degree of handedness correlated with their skepticism about what had been 'handed' down.
-z
poster:zeugma
thread:590717
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20051215/msgs/591327.html