Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 49 views

    Upper Intermediate: Keynote

    Uploaded by

    Lexie
    The document discusses the left-brain right-brain theory of personality and creativity. Kirk Monroe believes the theory can be useful, as some brain functions have been associated with different sides of the brain. However, Cary Wilson argues that the theory has been exaggerated and is not scientifically valid or useful for categorizing people's personalities. While understanding strengths and weaknesses can be beneficial, the key is that there is no evidence that the left-brain right-brain theory accurately describes people's creativity or personality types.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Upper Intermediate: Keynote

    Uploaded by

    Lexie
    49 views2 pages
    The document discusses the left-brain right-brain theory of personality and creativity. Kirk Monroe believes the theory can be useful, as some brain functions have been associated with different sides of the brain. However, Cary Wilson argues that the theory has been exaggerated and is not scientifically valid or useful for categorizing people's personalities. While understanding strengths and weaknesses can be beneficial, the key is that there is no evidence that the left-brain right-brain theory accurately describes people's creativity or personality types.

    Original Title

    unit 9

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document discusses the left-brain right-brain theory of personality and creativity. Kirk Monroe believes the theory can be useful, as some brain functions have been associated with different sides of the brain. However, Cary Wilson argues that the theory has been exaggerated and is not scientifically valid or useful for categorizing people's personalities. While understanding strengths and weaknesses can be beneficial, the key is that there is no evidence that the left-brain right-brain theory accurately describes people's creativity or personality types.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    49 views2 pages

    Upper Intermediate: Keynote

    Uploaded by

    Lexie
    The document discusses the left-brain right-brain theory of personality and creativity. Kirk Monroe believes the theory can be useful, as some brain functions have been associated with different sides of the brain. However, Cary Wilson argues that the theory has been exaggerated and is not scientifically valid or useful for categorizing people's personalities. While understanding strengths and weaknesses can be beneficial, the key is that there is no evidence that the left-brain right-brain theory accurately describes people's creativity or personality types.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    Upper Intermediate

    Keynote
    Reading text Unit 9: The left brain – right brain debate

    Is it possible to become more of a creative person than you are? Or are you stuck as a ‘left

    brain’ thinker? There’s a popular theory that our creativity and other aspects of our

    personalities are determined by which side of our brain is dominant. But is that a helpful

    theory? And is it even based on fact?

    We invited a psychologist, Cary Wilson, and an educationalist, Kirk Monroe, to discuss the

    question Is the left–right brain idea useful?

    KM Yes. It’s been shown many times that there are some brain functions that we can clearly

    associate with either the right or the left side of the brain. Language is located in the left side

    and visualization in the right, for example. There have also been studies which show

    something similar in animals; that is, things like feeding or escaping from predators are types

    of behaviour that seem to originate in different sides of the brain.

    CW No. The problem with this idea is that it has been exaggerated to describe whole

    personality types. If you go online, you’ll find countless tests which will tell you in a matter

    of seconds if you are a right-brain creative, artistic, musical and intuitive person who is

    influenced by their emotions, or alternatively that you are a left-brain thinker who’s logical,

    analytical and takes decisions objectively. You’ll even find lists of famous ‘left-brain’

    people: Albert Einstein or Stephen Hawking, and ‘right-brain’ people: Leonardo da Vinci!

    It’s nonsense. It’s not useful to put people into categories like this. In fact, I believe it is
    harmful. Not only is there no real evidence to support it, there are now some very convincing

    studies showing that both sides of the brain are active and neither side is stronger than the

    other.

    KM I agree that we use the whole brain to process things. However, it can be very useful in

    education, at work and in our daily lives to have a better understanding of our strengths and

    weaknesses. Let’s say you’ve done one of these tests and it tells you you’re a left-brain

    thinker. Perhaps you recognize that in yourself, because creativity is an area you want to

    improve in. Having this knowledge might encourage you to look for things you can do to

    boost your creativity.

    CW I can’t disagree that understanding more about how we think and function as individuals

    can benefit us. But for me, the key thing is to remember that there’s no scientific basis for this

    theory. Do the tests for fun, but don’t take them seriously.

    intuitive (adj) instinctive, not based on learning or outside evidence

    visualization (n) the technique of making mental images

    You might also like