Evaluation of Second and Fourth Digit Ratio, Anthropometric Parameters and Aggression Amongst artisans and Non-artisans in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Chapter One
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Aim of the Study
The aim of this study is to evaluate the 2D:4D, amongst artisans and non artisans and the relationship between 2D: 4D,some anthropometric variable and aggression in the sample population.
Objective of the Study
- The objectives of this study are to investigate:
- the differences of 2D:4D ratio between artisans and non-artisans.
- The differences of 2D:4D between different group of artisans
- the relationships between 2D:4D ratio and other anthropometric characteristics amongst artisans and non-artisans.
- investigate the relationships between 2D:4D ratio and aggression among artisans and non-artisans
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
ASSESSMENT OF DIGIT RATIO
Digit ratio is the ratio of the lengths of different digits or fingers typically measured from the midpoint of bottom crease where the finger joins the hand to the tip of the finger. It has been suggested by some scientists that the ratio of two digits in particular, the 2nd (index finger) and 4th (ring finger), is affected by exposure to androgens e.g. testosterone while in the uterus and that this 2D:4D ratio can be considered a crude measure for prenatal androgen exposure, with lower 2D:4D ratios pointing to higher prenatal androgen exposure. Mayhew etal.(2007) shows that male and female digit proportions are determined by the balance of sex hormones during early embryonic development. The 2D:4D ratio is calculated by dividing the length of the index finger of the right hand by the length of the ring finger of the right hand. A longer index finger will result in a ratio higher than 1, while a longer ring finger will result in a ratio of less than 1.
HISTORY OF DIGIT RATIO RESEARCH
That a greater proportion of men have shorter index fingers than ring fingers than do women was noted in the scientific literature several times through the late 1800s (Ecker 1875: Baker, 1888) with the statistically significant sex difference in a sample of 201 men and 109 women established by (George, 1930) after which time the sex difference appears to have been largely forgotten or ignored. Wilson (1983) published a study examining the correlation between assertiveness in women and digit ratio. This was the first study to examine the correlation between digit ratio and a psychological trait within members of the same sex. Wilson (2010) proposed that skeletal structure and personality were simultaneously affected by sex hormone levels in utero. Manning etal., (1998) reported that sex difference in digit ratios was present in two-year-old children and further developed the idea that the index was a marker of prenatal sex hormones. Since then research on the topic has burgeoned around the world.
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIAL AND METHODS
RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS
The subjects that participated in the study were artisans and non-artisans from Zaria Kaduna State (n = 700, mean age 27.21 ± 7.449 years), artisans (n=548, mean age=27.93±7.75,) and non-artisans (n=152, mean age=24.63±5.53).
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS
ANTHROPOMETRIC VARIABLES AND 2D:4D RATIO
Descriptive statistics of the entire sample population is shown on Table 4.1.The mean age and 2D:4D ratio of all the subjects are respectively (27.21±7.449) years and (0.983±0.089)for right and (0.983±0.081) for left hand ratios respectively. The mean 2D:4D ratio of artisan group are 0.98±0.09 and 0.98±0.08 for the right and left hand respectively, also the mean 2D:4D ratios of non-artisans are 0.98±0.09 and 0.98±0.09for right and left hand respectively. There is no statistically significant difference between right 2D:4D ratio of artisans and non-artisans group (t = -0.03, p = 0.768). Similar findings are seen in left 2D:4D ratios of artisans and non-artisan group (t = 0.65, p = 0.515).
There is statistically significant difference in all the measured anthropometric variables except right finger one and right finger three, left finger one, two and three, hand length and hand breadth respectively.
The Artisan groups scored higher in most of the anthropometric parameters than non- artisans except in right finger two to five, and left finger one to five, hand length and foot breadth respectively.
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION
The study of 2D:4D and other digit ratios, as well as their variation among population groups and among individuals may serve as a useful tool for establishing their values as biomarkers (Ghosh and Garth, 2005; Eachus. 2007;Kyriakidis and Papaioannidou. 2008; Danborno et al., 2010;Okampaet al., 2015.) 2D:4D and other digit ratios appear to be attractive anthropometric traits that probably deserve attention by anthropologists, scientists, and clinicians since these digit ratios have continued to show promise as biomarkers of health and diseases (Manning, 2002; Danbormo et al., 2010;Oyeyemi, et al., 2014; Mitsui, 2015).
One’s personality, outlook and degree of optimism may also be relevant indicators of preference and motivation for public service. Standard measures of personality and outlook, respectively, are the Big Five Inventory (BFI) devised by John (1990) and the Aspiration index (AI) constructed by Kasser and Ryan (1996).More recently, there has been more work that tries to get at the effects of prenatal T, as proxied by 2D:4D, on life outcomes. For example, Coates et al. (2009) have shown that lower 2D:4D (higher prenatal T) correlate with much greater earnings for participants engaged in high-frequency bond trading as compared to their colleagues with higher 2D:4D (lower prenatal T). There is also evidence that suggests that the effects of 2D:4D may be non-linear and sex-differentiated (Manning et al., 2010; Hell and Paessler, 2011; Branas-Garza, et al., 2012; Nye et al, 2012; Nye and Orel, 2015). For instance, Nye et al.,(2012) show that for academic achievement as measured by grades or school GPA, 2D:4D seems to have a clear and significant quadratic effect for women, but the effects are either mildly linear or even insignificant, Nye, et al. (2014) also tend to confirm the general findings of Manning et al. (2010) with regard to the differences in the effects of 2D:4D for women in more stereotypically masculine vs. more stereotypically feminine occupations. Hell and Paessler (2011), who only record desired rather than actual occupations, find that female 2D:4D is correlated with an interest in things and weaker interest in people or social professions. This dichotomy between results that sometimes seem to show correlations for male, and other times for female subjects, may be related to measuring actual occupation versus stated interests or preferences.
CHAPTER SIX
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
CONCLUSION
Among the different trade categories of artisans studied in this research. The brick layers have significantly higher left 2D:4D ratio than the other trade categories.
Differences in 2D:4D ratio, aggression and occupation of Kaduna state of Nigerian population has been established in this study, indicating occupational specificity in 2D:4D ratio and aggression.
In conclusion, the artisan group was found to have significantly higher level of physical aggression, verbal aggression and anger as compare to the non-artisan group.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the findings of the present study, the following recommendations are formulated:
- The 2D:4D to be used as tool for assessment of professionalism
- Similar study can be taken up on different scale
- Studies that provide a direct test of the link between 2D:4D and Prenatal testosterone should be done on different groups
- Research work can be done on larger population of different
- Current study offers up the question: can 2D:4D be used to predict future potential in occupation?
- Along with digital finger ratio (2D:4D) different ratios like 1D:2D, 1D:3D, 1D:4D, 1D:5D, 2D:3D, 2D:4D,2D:5D, 3D:4D, 3D:5D, and 4D:5D can be considered for further
CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE
The present has contributed to knowledge as follows:
- This study added to the reference and data base line for the study of 2D:4D and aggression among different groups of artisans and non-artisans in Zaria Kaduna State,
- The study established predictive equations for aggression among different categories artisans and non-artisans using 2D:4D ratio for right (Anger = 28.026 – (10.172 * R2D:4D)) and left (A = 28.923 – (11.060 *L2D:4D).
- An association has been established between aggression and 2D:4D ratio(A = 28.026 – (10.172 * R2D:4D)), and 2D:4D ratio with some other anthropometric variables(Height = 1.748 – (0.0498 * R2D:4D)) in Zaria, Kaduna state Nigeria. This is the first of its kind to the best of our knowledge.
REFERENCES
- Akobundu, N, M. (2000). An economic history of Isiokpo (Ikwerre) land: From Early Times to 1995. B. A. History Project, 24. 115-124
- Alan, A. B., Nick, R., Christian, K., Regine, T. and Johannes, T. (2011). Digit ratio (2D: 4D), salivary testosterone and handedness. Laterality, 16(2), 136-155.
- Allison, A., B. and Hurd, P. L. (2004). Finger length ratio (2D:4D) correlates with physical aggression in men but not in women. Journal of Biological Psychology, 5, 10-12.
- Altman, J. and Peterson, N. (1988). Rights to game and rights to cash among contemporary Australian hunter gatherers. In T Ingold, D Riches, J Woodburn (Eds). Hunters and gatherers: Power and Ideology. Berg. Oxford. 7988, 75- 74.
- Anders, V. S. M., Vernon, P. A., Wilbur, C. J., and Vernon, W. (2006). Finger-length ratios show evidence of prenatal hormone-transfer between opposite-sex twins. Hormones and Behaviour. 49 (3): 315-9
- Anderson, C. A. (1997). Effects of violent movies and trait irritability on hostile feelings and aggressive thoughts. Aggression Behaviour. 23, 161–178.
- Anderson, C. A. and Dill, K. E. (2000). Video games and aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behavior in the laboratory and in life. Journal of Personal Society and Psychology. 78, 772–790.