LEFT-HANDED PEOPLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21248, 30 July 1932, Page 10

LEFT-HANDED PEOPLE

LEVEL OF ABILITY#* POORER STANDARD CONTENDED -That left-handedness seemed to be associated with relatively low intellectual ability was a * deduction slated by fro-, fessor A. B. Fitt in a lecture on "Th# Problem of Left-Handedness" last evening, before the Auckland Edticafional Society. "A definite relatign between handedness and intellectual ability is shown from data,", stated Professor Fill;. ''Lefthandedness expresses itself in some individuals in tho form of poorer intellectual ability, in others in tho form of poorer physique, and in olhers in a psychopathic tendency. The instructional slaff of a certain institution lias among its members two markedly left-handed people. These are very brilliant intellectually, but in two respects they are rather outstandingly weak—in physique and in nervous control. With reference to the latter quality, they are both very 'highly strung.' " Professor Fitt explained that tho results he had obtained were 'tho work of an educational research group of the Auckland University College, which had been studying tho problems associated with left-handedness for the past two years. "The experimental data have been obtained in several Auckland educational institutions," he stated. "In the studies of differences in height between right and left-handed school children, there is some slight suggestion that in adolescence the left-handed group tends to reduce tho admitted superiority of tha right-handed group," the'-- lecturer said. Instances were given to show how the percentage of . left-handedness diminished from primary to secondary schools and universities. ' "Left-handed. boys of 13 and 14 years seem to bo somewhat shorter in stature than the right-handed,' 1 he continued. "There is a slight tendency to reversal at 15 years, and .an equally slight tendency to physical dominance of the righthanded group at 16 years. "In conclusion it might be pointed out that if tho suggestions arising from thi* and other studies prove to be valid, tha cause of much of the reported nervousness and stammering associated with the change-over from left-hand to right-hand activity should bo sought either directly or indirectly in the individual's inheritance.".