Tasha Howe wrote:
<A student in intro psych. asked the question and I had no
<idea why most blondes' hair turns brown, do you?
I am skeptical about the claim. Possibly, your student is refering to
limited observations and you now have the opportunity to teach the student
about the danger or restrictions of such thinking. In other words, you may
not receive an answer to your question because there is none.
I can tell you why hair turns gray or white, however. The cells related to
the process that causes pigmentation in the hair shafts simply get old and
die; or suffer from reduced functioning due to hormonal or nutritional
abnormalities. Heredity is a factor in both scenarios. I do not know if
the same process would apply to reduced pigmentation in blonde hair.
Chuck
*************************************
Charles M. Huffman, Ph.D.
Chair, Psychology Dept.
Cumberland College, Box 7990
Williamsburg, KY 40769
(606) 539-4422
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