Genetics shape political attitudes beyond what psychology alone can account for.
Swedish Twin Sample: Analyzing over 2,000 Swedish twin pairs reveals a strong genetic component influencing political behaviors and predispositions. This unique dataset allows researchers to isolate genetic effects from environmental ones.
Common Genetic Factor Explains Traits: The study finds that one shared genetic factor accounts for the majority of how genes connect with psychological traits (cognitive ability, personal control, extraversion) and political actions. These findings challenge previous assumptions about purely indirect pathways linking genetics to politics.
Implications & Limitations: While not conclusive proof against all mediation theories, these results suggest that genetics might have a more direct influence on political participation than previously thought.
| The Relationship Between Genes, Psychological Traits, and Political Participation was authored by Christopher Dawes, David Cesarini, James H. Fowler, Magnus Johannesson, Patrik K. E. Magnusson and Sven Oskarsson. It was published by Wiley in AJPS in 2014. |
