On the other hand
Subtitle: left hand, right brain, mental disorder, and history
By: Howard I. Kushner
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
Published: 2017
Language: eng
Number of pages: 200
ISBN-13: 9781421423333; 9781421423340
Copyright date: 2017
Subjects: Laterality; Left- and right-handedness; Left and right (Psychology)
Description: Since the late Stone Age, approximately 10 percent of humans have been left-handed, yet for most of human history left-handedness has been stigmatized. In On the Other Hand, Howard I. Kushner traces the impact of left-handedness on human cognition, behavior, culture, and health. A left-hander himself, Kushner has long been interested in the meanings associated with left-handedness, and ultimately with whether hand preference can even be defined in a significant way. As he explores the medical and cultural history of left-handedness, Kushner describes the associated taboos, rituals, and stigma from around the globe. The words "left" and "left hand" have negative connotations in all languages, and left-handers have even historically been viewed as disabled. In this comprehensive history of left-handedness, Kushner asks why left-handedness exists. He examines the relationship-if any-between handedness, linguistics, and learning disabilities, reveals how toleration of left-handedness serves as a barometer of wider cultural toleration and permissiveness, and wonders why the reported number of left-handers is significantly lower in Asia and Africa than in the West. Written in a lively style that mixes personal biography with scholarly research, On the Other Hand tells a comprehensive story about the science, traditions, and prejudices surrounding left-handedness.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 159-192) and index.
Table of contents: title: Genes and kangaroos; title: Criminals or victims? : Cesare Lombroso vs. Robert Hertz; title: By the numbers : measuring handedness; title: Ambiguous attitudes; title: Changing hands, tying tongues; title: From genes to populations : the search for a cause; title: The Geschwind hypothesis; title: Genetic models and selective advantage; title: Uniquely human?; title: A gay hand?; title: Disability, ability, and the left hand; title: Conclusion : does left-handedness matter?