Khaberni - A recent scientific study has shown that people who use their left hands (left handers) have higher levels of competitiveness compared to those who use their right hands, as well as having a stronger drive to win.
The study, conducted by researchers at Keiti Pescara University in Italy, analyzed data from 483 people who predominantly use their right hands, and 50 people who strongly use their left hands.
The analysis of the surveys showed that "right-handers" were more inclined to avoid competition, while "left-handers" recorded significantly higher levels in competitive behavior.
Why are left-handers more competitive?
The researchers offer a possible explanation for this phenomenon, pointing out that being a minority (only 10% of the world's population), left-handers may experience higher levels of frustration, which in turn generates a stronger desire in them to compete and prove themselves.
Professor Sebastian Ocklenburg of the "MSH" Medical School in Hamburg believes that this trait has an evolutionary advantage, stating, "Left-handers are thought to have an advantage in competitive situations like fighting, as they are rarer than right-handers, making their attacks in a fight more surprising to the opponent."
This advantage explains the superiority of left-handers in some sports such as fencing, where their rarity provides them with the element of surprise. However, Professor Ocklenburg emphasizes a fundamental condition to benefit from this advantage, namely that left-handers are "highly competitive and actively seek out conflict or sports competitions."
The list of left-handed celebrities includes notable names from various fields, such as painter and inventor Leonardo da Vinci, football star Diego Maradona, singer Eminem, and the stars Marilyn Monroe and Nicole Kidman.
In the world of finance and business, left-handers stand out strikingly, with some of the most successful CEOs in the world being Steve Jobs (Apple), Bill Gates (Microsoft), and Mark Zuckerberg (Meta).
A previous study published last year found a close link between left-handed CEOs and increased innovation in their companies, the acquisition of unique patents, and higher financial returns. This aligns with earlier research linking left-hand use with advanced creative abilities and excellence in language learning.
Statistics indicate that men are more likely to be left-handed than women. A previous study conducted by psychologists at the University of Vienna found that male children born in winter are more likely to be left-handed compared to those born in summer.
Researchers believe that exposure to higher levels of the male hormone (testosterone) in the womb increases the chances that the fetus will be left-handed. Since daylight increases testosterone secretion, male children going through the fetal growth stage in spring and summer (i.e., those born in winter) are exposed to higher levels of this hormone.
Despite the superiority of left-handers in competitiveness and combat sports, Professor Ocklenburg notes that right-handers excel in one area, cooperative behavior, specifically in learning new skills through observation of others. He explains this by mentioning that "most teachers use their right hands, which facilitates right-handed learners in acquiring new skills."
Thus, the study offers a comprehensive view for understanding the evolution of the phenomenon of left-handedness and explains why a significant proportion of creators, leaders, and outstanding athletes in the world are left-handed.
