Why Are Most Humans Right-Handed? The Modified Fighting Hypothesis
(2023) In Symmetry 15(4).- Abstract
Humans show a population-level preference for using the right hand. The fighting hypothesis is an influential theory that suggests that left-handedness persists because its rarity provides a surprise advantage in fighting interactions, and that left-handedness is less frequent because it has a health cost. However, evidence for the health cost of left-handedness is unsubstantiated, leaving the greater frequency of right-handers unexplained. Research indicates that homicide may have been common in early hominins. We propose that the hand used to hold a weapon by early hominins could have influenced the outcome of a fight, due to the location of the heart and aorta. A left-handed unilateral grip exposes the more vulnerable left hemithorax... (More)
Humans show a population-level preference for using the right hand. The fighting hypothesis is an influential theory that suggests that left-handedness persists because its rarity provides a surprise advantage in fighting interactions, and that left-handedness is less frequent because it has a health cost. However, evidence for the health cost of left-handedness is unsubstantiated, leaving the greater frequency of right-handers unexplained. Research indicates that homicide may have been common in early hominins. We propose that the hand used to hold a weapon by early hominins could have influenced the outcome of a fight, due to the location of the heart and aorta. A left-handed unilateral grip exposes the more vulnerable left hemithorax towards an opponent, whereas a right-hand unilateral grip exposes the less vulnerable right hemithorax. Consequently, right-handed early ancestors, with a preference for using the right forelimb in combat, may have had a lower risk of a mortal wound, and a fighting advantage. This would explain their greater frequency. In accordance with the original fighting hypothesis, we also suggest that left-handed fighters have a surprise advantage when they are rare, explaining their persistence. We discuss evidence for the modified fighting hypothesis, its predictions, and ways to test the theory.
(Less)
- author
- Larsson, Matz LU ; Schepman, Astrid and Rodway, Paul
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023-04
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- ancestor, hand preference, lateralized function, tools, warfare
- in
- Symmetry
- volume
- 15
- issue
- 4
- article number
- 940
- publisher
- MDPI AG
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85156185436
- ISSN
- 2073-8994
- DOI
- 10.3390/sym15040940
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 7098116c-ca8f-49cb-a372-b6266289ae52
- date added to LUP
- 2023-08-14 08:05:01
- date last changed
- 2023-08-14 08:05:01
@article{7098116c-ca8f-49cb-a372-b6266289ae52,
abstract = {{<p>Humans show a population-level preference for using the right hand. The fighting hypothesis is an influential theory that suggests that left-handedness persists because its rarity provides a surprise advantage in fighting interactions, and that left-handedness is less frequent because it has a health cost. However, evidence for the health cost of left-handedness is unsubstantiated, leaving the greater frequency of right-handers unexplained. Research indicates that homicide may have been common in early hominins. We propose that the hand used to hold a weapon by early hominins could have influenced the outcome of a fight, due to the location of the heart and aorta. A left-handed unilateral grip exposes the more vulnerable left hemithorax towards an opponent, whereas a right-hand unilateral grip exposes the less vulnerable right hemithorax. Consequently, right-handed early ancestors, with a preference for using the right forelimb in combat, may have had a lower risk of a mortal wound, and a fighting advantage. This would explain their greater frequency. In accordance with the original fighting hypothesis, we also suggest that left-handed fighters have a surprise advantage when they are rare, explaining their persistence. We discuss evidence for the modified fighting hypothesis, its predictions, and ways to test the theory.</p>}},
author = {{Larsson, Matz and Schepman, Astrid and Rodway, Paul}},
issn = {{2073-8994}},
keywords = {{ancestor; hand preference; lateralized function; tools; warfare}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{4}},
publisher = {{MDPI AG}},
series = {{Symmetry}},
title = {{Why Are Most Humans Right-Handed? The Modified Fighting Hypothesis}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/sym15040940}},
doi = {{10.3390/sym15040940}},
volume = {{15}},
year = {{2023}},
}