A team of researchers at the MSH Medical School in Hamburg, Germany, says left-handers are more prone to rivalry than right-handers and are also more competitive.
The high level of what’s called a “hypercompetitive orientation” among left-handers is 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 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 also reminded readers that previous studies show left-handers have advantages in some sports, such as fencing and badminton. But to benefit from that edge, they 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 the most 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.
