A Comparative Study on Brain Dominance and Achievement Motivation in Homosexual and Heterosexual Young Adults

Abstract

The present study examines the relationship between brain dominance and achievement motivation of heterosexual and homosexual young adults. Sample of 200 college going students participated in the study (100 heterosexuals and 100 homosexuals). The research involved the use of two questionnaires; Alert Scale, which divides subjects based on hemispheric dominance and Achievement Motivation Inventory, which measures whether the motivation level of the subject is high or low. The results revealed that there is no significant difference in achievement motivation between heterosexual and homosexual young adults. Although there was a significant difference in achievement motivation between homosexual and heterosexual young adults based on their hemispheric lateralisation. Even within the heterosexual group and homosexual group based on the lateralisation there was a significant difference in their achievement motivation. Both the groups also varied based on the brain dominance. Most homosexual subjects lied in bilateral hemisphere category and least were in strongly right hemisphere category. While more heterosexual lied in moderately left hemisphere category and least in strongly left category. These findings suggest that the difference in lateralisation; hemisphere that is mostly dominant in the individuals, can influence the achievement motivation of people.