Award Date

8-1-2013

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

First Committee Member

Russell Hurlburt

Second Committee Member

Jeffrey Kern

Third Committee Member

David Copeland

Fourth Committee Member

Bo Bernhard

Number of Pages

296

Abstract

Research suggests there are anatomical asymmetries of the human brain associated with right-hand or left-hand preference. In addition, left-handedness has been related to a wide range of psychological and physical problems. Despite these relationships, little is known about the inner experience of left-handers.

The present study, a replication of Mizrachi (2010) using a larger sample, used Descriptive Experience Sampling (DES) with three objectives: 1) examine the inner experience of left-handers; 2) compare the results of the present study to the results of Mizrachi (2010); and 3) compare the inner experience of left-handers to that of the general population as reported by Heavey and Hurlburt (2008).

Of 256 volunteers who completed the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI), 10 identified as being left-handed were invited to participate in the DES sampling of their inner experience. All agreed to do so and engaged in five days of DES sampling.

The findings suggest that the inner experience of left-handers is quantitatively and qualitatively different from the inner experience of the general population. Left-handers experience sensory awareness, words experienced without semantic significance, and multiple experience at a substantially higher frequency than the general population. Left-handers experience inner seeing, inner speech, and feeling substantially less than the general population.

Keywords

Descriptive experience sampling; Introspection; Left- and right-handedness – Psychological aspects; Left-handers

Disciplines

Psychology

File Format

pdf

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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