Being left-handed is not the most common, but approximately 10.6% of the population world is left-handed. From a purely evolutionary point of view, this has always represented a puzzle for biologists, since, if being right-handed is the norm and facilitates cooperation and the use of standardized tools for everyone, a compelling question arises: why has natural selection not eradicated left-handedness over the millennia?
Investigating. The answer to this question seems to be deeply rooted in our competitive nature. At least this is what a study published in mid-Februarywhich gives us more light on this enigma, and confirms that left-handers are much more competitive on a psychological and evolutionary level.
In the mind. The research team in this case thoroughly analyzed the relationship between manual lateralitysex and competitiveness. And to do this, they evaluated more than 1,100 online surveys in which the Laterality Quotient was calculated, which measures the preference for using one side of the body, and they crossed it with tests such as the 9-Hole Peg which measures manual dexterity.
The results. It was clearly seen that left-handers show significantly higher levels of “hypercompetitiveness.” In addition, they have a lower tendency to avoid competition due to anxiety and, interestingly, the study showed that this thirst for victory is not correlated with greater pure physical skill, but is a deeply psychological trait.
What does it mean? The study in this case reinforces a biological theory that was already proposed: the Evolutionarily Stable Strategy. In this case they pointed out that human evolution is a constant tug-of-war between cooperation and competition within a species. If we transfer it to the population level, the right-handed majority guarantees social cooperation and standardization to be able to use the same tools for everyone.
However, in a world where everyone competes under the same rules, being “different” grants an invaluable tactical advantage, something known as the ‘fighting hypothesis’. In this way, being a minority of 10%, left-handers enjoy a surprise effect in hand-to-hand combat, since right-handers are not used to defending themselves from attacks coming from the left side.
An advantage. Already a study from 2019 with more than 13,800 boxers and MMA fighters confirmed that left-handers, both men and women, won a significant percentage of fights. The same thing happens in soccer, where being left-footed is considered a tactical and technical advantage by offering this surprise factor against the rival, who a shot with the other leg is not expected which he is used to seeing because most footballers are right-handed. In addition, the brain symmetry of left-handers usually facilitates control of both legs.
To survive. In this way, science suggests that evolution has not only given left-handers an advantage based on the surprise effect, but has also shaped their psychological profile so that they seek and do not fear those competitive scenarios where they have the chance to win.
Left-handedness, therefore, is far from being a simple anomaly or a “flaw” of the evolutionary system, but is a mechanism perfectly balanced by nature.
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