Uzroci slabe rasprostranjenosti ljevorukosti u ljudskoj populaciji

master's thesis

• Title (english): Causes of low prevalence of left-handedness in the human population
• Author: Nera Kolić
• Mentor: Tanja Bukovčan (mentor)
• Committee member: Nevena Škrbić Alempijević (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Iva Grubiša (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2022-09-28, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Ethnology and Anthropology; Anthropology

Abstract

Lateralizacija označava dominantno korištenje jedne strane tijela naspram druge te rezultira desnorukošću ili ljevorukošću. Oko 90% ljudske populacije dominantno koristi desnu ruku, dok lijevu koristi oko 10%. Taj nesrazmjer pokušava se objasniti istraživanjem razvoja mozga te genetskih čimbenika. No, recentnija istraživanja ističu poprilično velik utjecaj kulturnih čimbenika. Naime, tijekom duge povijesti ljudske civilizacije može se pratiti kontinuirana negativna simbolika vezana za dominantno korištenje lijeve ruke te stigmatizacija ljevaka. Ljevorukost se smatrala iskrivljenom, poteklom od zla te čak i patološkim stanjem. No, suvremena istraživanja pokazala su da ona nema veze s pojavom bolesti te da je u posljednjih 50 godina broj ljevaka u Europi porastao, što se pripisuje kulturi prihvaćanja ljevorukosti. Temeljem toga, cilj ovog rada jest istaknuti moguće uzroke rijetke pojave ljevorukosti u društvu. Nastavak istraživanja ove teme mogao bi pomoći u normalizaciji ljevorukosti u društvu kao i doskočiti problemu ponekad nepraktične svakodnevice s kojom se ljevaci susreću.

Abstract (english)

Lateralization indicates the dominant use of one side of the body over the other and results in right-handedness or left-handedness. About 90% of the human population dominantly uses the right hand, while about 10% uses the left. Researching brain development and genetic factors are trying to explain that disproportion. However, recent studies highlight the great influence of cultural factors. To be specific, throughout the long human history, there was the continuous negative symbolism related to the dominant use of the left hand and the stigmatization of left-handed people. Left-handedness was considered distorted, originating from evil and even a pathological condition. However, contemporary research has shown that it has nothing to do with the onset of disease and that in the last 50 years the number of left-handed people in Europe has increased, which is attributed to the culture of acceptance of left-handedness. Based on that, the goal of this paper is to highlight the possible causes of the low distribution of left-handedness in society. Continuing research of this topic could help normalize left-handedness in society, as well as address the problem of impractical everyday life that left-handed people face sometimes.

• Keywords: lateralizacija; ljevorukost; stigmatizacija; genetski i kulturni čimbenici
• Keywords (english): lateralization; left-handedness; stigmatization; genetic and cultural influences
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:702263
• Study programme: Title: Anthropology (double major); Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra antropologije (magistar/magistra antropologije)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2022-10-03 11:39:43