Temne-Arunta Hand/Eye Dominance and Susceptibility to Geometric Illusions

Abstract

Dawson (1972) has described a relationship between mixed hand/eye dominance and cognitive style, which is thought to influence susceptibility to those illusions requiring greater spatial discrimination. Present data show that right-eyed Ss were significantly less susceptible to the Horizontal-Vertical (contiguous and non-contiguous) and the Perspective Drawing. It was further hypothesized that this lower susceptibility for right-eye dominant Ss was due to interaction of (a) better spatial skills (as lower susceptibility to these illusions also correlated more highly with Kohs Blocks' scores) and (b) eye dominance, culturally determined glance curves, and position of the illusion in the visual field. While there was some evidence to support (a), due to a lack of adequate controls and other methodological problems, it was not possible to draw any definite conclusions concerning (b).