Abstract
The concept of handedness correlating with aggression is a unique idea that has not been studied before. Handedness is a physical trait that is controlled by an individual. This study analyzed the correlation and causation of handedness and aggression. Certain risk factors were further examined including psychological and environmental theories that explained the causation of handedness and aggression and how the two are correlated. Ten left-handed and ten right-handed violent offenders were chosen. These specific violent offenders were chosen based on their aggressive history, if their dominant hand was documented, and the diversity of their violent committed crimes. Non-aggressive offenders such as white-collar criminals were excluded.
A rubric was created that lists the specific traits that were analyzed in each case study. The traits analyzed included their criminal history; signs of mental disorders; history of animal abuse; history of being a victim to bullying; history of committing petty crime; dominant hand; signs of a paraphilic disorder; history of being a victim to physical/sexual/verbal abuse; peer rejection; and exposure to violence. The rubric was made to determine any similarities and differences between the left-handed and right-handed violent offenders. It was difficult determining the handedness of each violent offender since it is not something that is documented. Overall, the study was done with the intent of providing data for any future studies.
Keywords: handedness, aggression, psychopathy, left-handed, right-handed