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Psychological Consequences of Switching Dominant Hands?

post #1 of 10
6/21/09 at 1:28am
Thread Starter 
I've had multiple people tell me that there are psychological consequences to switching hand dominance in early childhood. For example, I was forced to use my right hand, though I was a natural lefty. However, I've found little to support this online, though I'm not really sure how to go about searching for support anyway. Does anybody know anything more about this? I'm doing fine psychologically, I'm just curious to see this substantiated.
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post #2 of 10
6/21/09 at 8:44am
I shattered my right arm playing hockey when I was 17...had to switch to left for everything. Somethings have gone back to right, some have not.

Oh, I'm severely fucked up. Seriously...never heard of that before, but considering what I have been through Id be interested as well.
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post #3 of 10
6/21/09 at 8:57am
Well I actually read an article about this a few years back. I heard that there are actual benefits from switching hands once in a while. The other side of your brain gets to function as much as your dominant side. That is why in the morning, I brush my teeth with my left hand instead of my right (try it out). I also play hockey left handed, if that really matters. But psychological consequences, I think not, maybe just the opposite.
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post #4 of 10
6/21/09 at 9:29am
I'm going to try switching hands. As a kid I had to do things left handed when I broke my right arm a few times. A left-handed mouse would be a good step.
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post #5 of 10
6/22/09 at 3:08am
I could see some in-direct consequences... such as if your parents beat you for using the wrong hand (Asian styles with the feather duster).
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post #6 of 10
6/22/09 at 9:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Becks23 View Post
I could see some in-direct consequences... such as if your parents beat you for using the wrong hand (Asian styles with the feather duster).

ahhhhh memories
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post #7 of 10
6/22/09 at 9:28am
I had to switch dominant hands later in life due to a severe arm injury. Oddly, my dad was one of those leftys forced to use his right hand, but he now is left dominant again.

I don't think it messed either of us up too badly, though. Never heard of it causing psych issues, though I imagine being punished for what came naturally to you might result in some sort of issue.
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post #8 of 10
6/22/09 at 9:29am
There's only one activity I've switched hands doing........................
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post #9 of 10
6/22/09 at 9:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by XenoX101 View Post
There's only one activity I've switched hands doing........................
Yeh I'm surprised more people don't especially since the majority of people use the mouse with their right hand anyways. hahahaha
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post #10 of 10
6/22/09 at 1:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockket View Post
I've had multiple people tell me that there are psychological consequences to switching hand dominance in early childhood. For example, I was forced to use my right hand, though I was a natural lefty. However, I've found little to support this online, though I'm not really sure how to go about searching for support anyway. Does anybody know anything more about this? I'm doing fine psychologically, I'm just curious to see this substantiated.

The theory behind this is that children can get the idea that there's something innately wrong with them or that they were born inferior to everyone else.

The psychological damage doesn't come from actual switching of the dominant hand but by being told at a young age that there's something wrong with being left handed and having to hide that fact of yourself.
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