Social aspects of left-handedness

Abstract

Throughout human history left-handedness has been considered as sinful. It has been associated with the devil, weakness, female gender, unhealthiness, evil, something that has to be turned to a "good"--right side by force. Left-handedness is being more and more acceptable at rational level, but in everyday life it is still considered to be unusual if someone writes with the left hand. Lessening of the number of lefthanders is associated with ageing. There are about 13% lefthanders among people in twenties and less than 1% lefthanders among those in eighties. This finding may be explaned with more pronounced socio-cultural pressure on left-handed people in the past, compared to nowadays. On the other hand, this may also support the hypothesis about a reduced life span of lefthanded people. With cross-exercising of left-handedness, certain typical characteristics and behavioural patterns appear in these people. This was a sort of provoked behaviour and an attack on the integrity of an emotional attitude toward oneself. Stuttering may also appear as a consequence of unsuccessful cross-exercising of left-handedness. The hypothesis about left-handedness as an advantage is supported with the reports about relatively more lefthanders in some specific groups such as: mathematicians, sculptors, architects, painters, musicians, actors, tennis players, as well as famous army commanders and rulers.

The influence of the dynamics and the level of maturity of the cortical functions as a prerequisite for the development of speech in children

“…Respondents with a lower amplitude were predominantly left-handed (50%), while subjects with a regular amplitude were predominantly right-handed (70%) (Figure 4). Considering that gestural lateralization of the hand is seen here, we can conclude that laterality did not succumb to sociocultural pressure and reflects spontaneous, individual maturation, which is precisely the reason for this result [29].…”

Is experimentally induced pain associated with socioeconomic status? Do poor people hurt more?

“…A more definitive answer to this question should reside in the simultaneous measurement of population-based subjects by measurers of both genders in order to avoid measurer gender bias. We also confirmed a previously reported difference in handedness [40], but failed to provide more definitive answers due to the widespread policy of negating left-handedness and converting left-handed people to right-handed, which is present in the entire region [41]. Lastly, psychological factors such as neuroticism or extroversion were reported to have an effect on some domains or types of pain [42].…”

Historical aspects of left-handedness

“…During the Middle Ages, left-handedness was considered "sinful. " Under the strong influence of the Catholic Church, left-handedness was connected with the "devil," "weakness, " "feminine, " "unhealthy, " "filthy, " with something that had to be forced to turn to the "good-right" side [18].…”

“…Two of the most famous tarot cards, Lady Justice and the Devil, symbolically depict such prejudices. Lady Justice is holding a sword in her right hand, while the devil uses his left hand [12,18].…”