Dealing With the Hand You Were Dealt
Posted in Weird Science on April 18th, 2007 by Erin DietrichHow many times have you asked to compare hand sizes with someone your interested in just to feel the tingle of excitement? New lovers of all ages have done this and it is so instinctive it almost feels primal in nature. Why is it so universal? Maybe this sweet, almost childlike, ritual is connected to something deeper. In fact scientists argue that there are biological cues that can be gained from hand size, and finger length in particular. So, take your hand off your mouse and have a look at the length of your fingers. You’ll be surprised at what they have to tell you.
Dr. John Manning from the University of Liverpool has conducted research indicating that the length of your ring finger is indicative of numerous things, from your intelligence to your driving skills. Why does finger length matter? The length of your ring finger appears to be tied to prenatal levels of testosterone. High levels of testosterone as a developing baby causes ring finger to be longer and lower levels result in a shorter ring finger. This is true for both boys and girls, although the impacts differ slightly.
Okay, so you’ve looked at your ring finger by now. What is it telling you? First, the obligatory disclaimer, scientists have found strong correlations, so this research might not be totally true for everyone.
For men, a longer ring finger indicates:
- They are more aggressive;
- They have higher fertility levels;
- They have lower chances of having a heart attack and dyslexia; and
- They are more likely to be bisexual or homosexual.
For women, a longer ring finger indicates:
- They have better athletic abilities;
- They have lower fertility levels;
- They have lower chances of having breast cancer; and
- They are more likely to be bisexual or homosexual.
What constitutes a long ring finger? Compare the length of your ring finger to your pointer finger. If your ring finger is longer than your pointer finger, you got a lot of testosterone before you were born. If it is shorter, you received a lower dose of testosterone in the womb.
Hmmm. Next time you are on a date, having a conversation with your boss, or just wondering why your kids act the way they do, you may want to have a glance at their hands. And I recommend keeping yours firmly in your lap.
If your interested in reading more about these fascinating studies click here to order the book Digit Ratio: A Pointer to Fertility, Behavior and Health by Dr. Manning.
April 19th, 2007 at 7:08 am
I’m now depressed after reading this post. My ring finger is average I guess, so now I’m passive, have low fertility, and have a greater chance of dying from heart disease. I guess being straight’s alright though..haha. I’m kidding of course, but it’s an interesting study (one that I haven’t had a chance to read in full yet).
April 19th, 2007 at 8:21 am
Hey chin up James! The finger results weren’t too positive for me either. I’m thinking there may be a market for surgically altering the length of ones fingers - why not add it to the shopping cart at the plastic surgeons office…
April 19th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Is there anything to be said about the length of the second toe? My brother’s could set some records!
April 19th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
I looked and toe length seems to be a relatively untapped research topic Shannon! You must be on to something. For now I guess it just means maybe he can just swim faster with those flipper-like feet.
April 19th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
I have heard a number of things with regards to a longer second toe… you can run faster, you can jump higher, all typically relating to athletics. However I think that Micheangelo’s David says it best. Micheangelo sculpted David as the perfect man. And on the perfect man is of course a longer second toe.
Actually, Michelangelo stole this idea from the ancient Greeks who saw the long second toe as an attribute of the gods. Since Micheangelo used this in David, as well as a number of his sculptures, many other artists have used the longer toe as a sign of royalty, beauty, and intelligence.
Need I say more.
April 19th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Wow Grant, no I think you said it all!
April 20th, 2007 at 11:16 am
What does it say about me that I hauled off my sock after I read Grant’s comment and checked the length of my second toe?!?! Haha…
And for the record, it’s not longer than my big toe…but I’m a pretty good athlete, just not “perfect”. Pretty good will do…for now!
April 20th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Hmm, it seems this is another trend for me to defy. I just hope I don’t defy the higher fertility and lower risk of heart attack trend. I can handle being straight and non-aggressive
And I *do* have beauty and intelligence despite my big toe being longer than my second.
I’m also very modest