Is there an evolutionary benefit to being bald?

[Andros]

Stephen Adshead, Edinburgh, UK
Evolutionary traits tend to exist for two main reasons: survival and attracting a sexual partner.

Martin Jenkins, London, UK
If the bald English stage and screen actor Cedric Hardwicke was right, the answer to this question is no. He observed that even if claims bald men are more sexually potent are right, they get fewer chances to prove it.

Also, a bald man would have been at a disadvantage in combat. A blow to the head may have its force softened by thick hair; a club to a bald head is more likely to fracture the skull.

In either case, the chances of a bald man contributing to the gene pool would have been reduced.

Donald Windsor, Norwich, New York, US
Male baldness may have had an evolutionary advantage that can readily be seen in a crowd of people of diverse ages, where bald heads stand out.


Once over the age of about 25, men tend toward baldness and their hairless heads would have been a clear sign of age-related seniority, which would have been an advantage in terms of survival.


Grey or white hair would have provided a similar function. My bald head is garnished with a ring of grey hair and my grey beard emphasises the wisdom befitting my advanced age of 86.

Mike Follows, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, UK
A 1996 study suggested male pattern baldness signals maturity and gravitas.


This may be a legacy from our past. Grooming that takes place among great apes can involve plucking hair – higher status apes receive more grooming and can exhibit alopecia.


What’s more, in 2008, a study suggested that because it increases the area of skin exposed to sunlight, male pattern baldness may have evolved to increase the production of vitamin D.


This vitamin protects against prostate cancer, which interferes with reproduction and can lead to premature death.


But the onset of male pattern baldness tends to be after men reach fatherhood, so too late to remove bald men from the potential gene pool. This suggests it doesn’t bestow any evolutionary advantage or disadvantage.


However, they may be seen as superior mates and better marriage material because they are perceived as more nurturing towards offspring and less likely to attract rival females.

Is there an evolutionary benefit to being bald?

Does male pattern baldness convey an evolutionary advantage? Readers share their theories

www.newscientist.com

 

[Pietrosiek]

more aerodynamic for running

 

[Subhuman trash]

NO

 

[Jagged0]

“However, they may be seen as superior mates and better marriage material because they are perceived as more nurturing towards offspring and less likely to attract rival females”

Lol indirectly calling balding a truecel betabuxing trait

 

[Chrono]

cope like the pope. There is not benefit for being bald. The only benefit I can think of is that it can be used as a defensive mechanism. Because you look like a dying corpse/

 

[maxmendietta]

reflective surface so you can beaconmaxx tbh

 

[Andros]

 

[AutisticBeaner]

No, I don't believe there's any evolutionary benefit. Now what does that tell you? Why would some of us after years of evolution still go bald at such an early age? Showing our "seniority" and making people believe that we're 50 while we're in our early 20s. It make no sense, doesn't it? And what does that tell you? The trait must be environmental. Sure, there is some genetic influence on how early you lose your hair. But there must be a lot more modern influence.

 

[Deleted member 2756]

not at all.
most men would have been bald before the androgen hypothesis was theorized. Go even further back, a large portion of them would have been bald, and they most definitely wouldn't have given a flying fuck, why would they? hypergamy didn't exist, they raped, pillaged and took what they wanted, when western civilization rose, father's children were married off to the ugliest men you could possibly imagine, didn't matter back then.

 

[Gaia262]

I have always wanted to know the answer to this question. It makes no sense at all for a healthy human to undergo hairloss which signifies disease, hormone imbalances, stress, poor nutrition.

There is no rationale for this, it literally is just a subhuman feature.