Scivillage.com Casual Discussion Science Forum

https://bigthink.com/the-past/why-most-p...ht-handed/

KEY POINTS: One of the leading ideas to explain why so few people are left-handed is the fighting hypothesis. It suggests that left-handers have an advantage in combat, but it comes with a hit to overall health. A team of researchers recently proposed an update to the hypothesis. They say that right-handers actually have a greater fighting advantage, because wielding a pointy weapon with one's right hand makes the heart harder to stab during combat. Based on this revision, the authors predict that left-handedness could increase in the population over time... (MORE - details)

(May 1, 2023 05:35 PM)C C Wrote: [ -> ]https://bigthink.com/the-past/why-most-p...ht-handed/

KEY POINTS: One of the leading ideas to explain why so few people are left-handed is the fighting hypothesis. It suggests that left-handers have an advantage in combat, but it comes with a hit to overall health. A team of researchers recently proposed an update to the hypothesis. They say that right-handers actually have a greater fighting advantage, because wielding a pointy weapon with one's right hand makes the heart harder to stab during combat. Based on this revision, the authors predict that left-handedness could increase in the population over time... (MORE - details)

I think it's more to do with the point of development when someone learns to read/write (at least for writing)

In young children when learning, it's often seen that they are capable of mirror writing. The reason is likely down to how the brain develops, early on it's not developed enough to invert an action so as to mimic it the same way round, so initially mirroring is easier.

An assumption (and potentially a way to prove the hypothesis) is to look at whether the younger kids in the class are more likely to become left handed over the older ones that are more developed that likely become right handed.

Quote:They say that right-handers actually have a greater fighting advantage, because wielding a pointy weapon with one's right hand makes the heart harder to stab during combat.

That and maybe the human heart evolving to be more left of center where it can be protected.

Most people are right-footed. Dunno what that says about anything.
I'd be surprised if monkeys weren't also right-handed despite not routinely fighting with pointy things.
And so they are (apart from orang-utangs)
https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/d...andedness/