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- Multi-Perspective Palm Reading - Level 3: HAND SHAPE! (3/9)
A proper assessment of the hand shape requires the measurement of various aspects of the hand, but an assessment of the body length is necessary in order to judge all aspects of hand correctly.
A few guidelines for 'hand size' vs. 'body length': - The average 'hand length' is typically about 11% of 'body length'; - The average 'hand breadth' is typically about 4.8% of 'body length'. (More specified guidelines will follow later) Another important measure for the hand shape concerns the 'hand index', which is defined as the ratio between 'hand breadth' and 'hand length'. NOTICE: - Hand length = 'tip of middle finger' to 'center of upper wrist crease'; - Hand breadth = 'palm width at metacarpals'; - Finger length = 'tip of middle finger' to 'proximal crease of middle finger connecting with the palm'. A study of various populations around the world (including males & females from e.g.: the US, China, India, the Netherlands and Japan) reveals that the average human 'hand index' is close to 0.44. But one has to be aware that 'hand index' varies among populations with sex and body length: - Males typically have a higher 'hand index' (average close to 0.45), and females typically have a lower 'hand index' (average close to 0.43); - Tall populations have a higher 'hand index' (average for Dutch males + females is close to 0.45); small populations have a lower 'hand index' (average for Japanese males + females is close to 0.43). (More specified guidelines will follow later) |
COPYRIGHT © 2015 Martijn van Mensvoort, MSc. in 'Clinical & Health Psychology' (The Netherlands) |