Carlos Solis
A team of researchers at the MSH Medical School in Hamburg, Germany, found that left-handers are more prone to rivalry and more competitive than right-handers.
The high level of what’s called a “hypercompetitive orientation” among left-handers appears to be driven by a very strong desire to win. The researchers say this finding sheds new light on the evolution of left-handedness, a trait that affects about 10 percent of the world’s population.
Previous studies have already linked left-handedness with better language-learning ability, greater creativity, and higher performance in certain sports.
What did the researchers find?
For the study, the team analyzed survey data from 483 right-handers and 50 left-handers.
The analysis showed that right-handers avoided competitions more often than left-handers, who also displayed higher levels of competitiveness.
Commenting on the results, psychology professor Sebastian Ocklenburg said right-handers may have an advantage in some forms of cooperative behavior, for example when learning how to build something by following someone else’s example.
Left-handers often have an edge in competitive situations, such as fights. “Their attacks in a fight are more unexpected,” Professor Ocklenburg said. He noted that previous studies show left-handers have advantages in some sports, such as fencing and badminton. But to benefit from that edge, left-handers have to be “very competitive and actively seek out conflict situations or sporting contests,” the psychologist noted.
The study may ultimately help explain the success of some famous left-handers, the Daily Mail writes.
In an article published on the Psychology Today blog, the team also noted that “most teachers are likely right-handed, so right-handed students often find it easier to perform new tasks.”
How other researchers view the findings
Last year, a team of Italian researchers wrote in a paper published in Scientific Reports: “Left-handers form a minority of the Earth’s population, and a possible advantage of belonging to this minority is a stronger element of ‘surprise’ in fights and sports.”
The researchers said that being part of a minority may be a key factor driving a strong desire to compete and win. Overall, left-handers show “a large variability of talents,” but there is still no explanation for that.
The researchers also found that left-handed leaders tend to be more innovative and creative, and that their companies tend to be more profitable.
Experts have also found that men are more often left-handed than women.
The most successful left-handers often take pride in their left-handedness. Here are just a few notable left-handers: Leonardo da Vinci, Diego Maradona, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Eminem, Justin Bieber, Tom Cruise, Marilyn Monroe, Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis, Nicole Kidman, Bill Gates.
