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Weinschenk A, Dawes C, Klemmensen R, Rye Rasmussen SH. Genes, personality, and political behavior: A replication and extension using Danish twins. Politics Life Sci 2023; 42:4-16. [PMID: 37140221 DOI: 10.1017/pls.2022.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
In this article, we examine whether there is genetic overlap between personality traits and political participation, interest, and efficacy. We make several contributions to the literature. First, we use new data from a large sample of twins from Denmark to examine the link between genes, the Big Five traits, and political behavior. Previous research in this area has not examined the Danish context. Second, because our measures have some overlap with those used in previous studies, we are able to examine whether previous findings replicate in a different sample. Finally, we extend the literature by examining the possible genetic link between some personality and political traits that have not yet been explored. Overall, we find that genes account for a fairly large share of the correlation between two of the Big Five personality traits (openness and extraversion), political participation, and political interest. Thus, most of the relationship between these personality traits and our measures of political behavior can be accounted for by a common underlying genetic component.
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Murray GR, Carroll BA. An Experimental Examination of Demand-Side Preferences for Female and Male National Leaders. Front Psychol 2020; 11:576278. [PMID: 33041949 PMCID: PMC7522344 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.576278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Females constitute a far smaller proportion of political leaders than their proportion in the general population. Leading demand- and supply side explanations for this phenomenon account for some of the variance but leave a great deal unexplained. In an effort to account for additional variance, this research evaluates the issue informed by the biological theory of evolution by natural selection, a foundational explanation for the diversity and function of living organisms. It experimentally assesses how varying types of inter- and intragroup threat-a recurring ancestral problem-affect demand for female and male national leaders. This work analyzes data collected from individuals (N = 826) in the U.S. during the 2012 Cooperative Congressional Election Study. The results suggest the predominant preference for male over female leaders in some contexts may be the non-adaptive and non-functional but lingering outcome of an adaptive preference for physically formidable allies that was shaped by natural selection in ancestral environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregg R Murray
- Department of Social Sciences, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
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Twito L, Knafo-Noam A. Beyond culture and the family: Evidence from twin studies on the genetic and environmental contribution to values. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 112:135-143. [PMID: 31917161 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Human values are abstract goals, affecting decisions, choices and behavior (Schwartz, 1992). Despite much value research, there is a lack of research on the etiology of values, specifically potential genetic influences. We therefore reviewed all published twin studies on human values, classified as representing four higher order values across two bipolar dimensions: Self-transcendence versus Self-enhancement and Openness to change versus Conservation. Across most studies, and most values, monozygotic twins correlated more strongly than dizygotic twins, indicating genetic contribution to values. Significant heritability estimates ranged from 24.5 to 85.7%. The effects of the environment shared by family members were generally weaker. Finally, there was a contribution of the non-shared environment for all values. After discussing the implications for the neuropsychological research on values, we suggest several future research directions, which may help guide the future science of the etiology of values. We also discuss the possible discrepancy between our findings and theory and research on value socialization and discuss the interplay of genes and the environment in the development of values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Twito
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
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5
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Abdellaoui A, Hugh-Jones D, Yengo L, Kemper KE, Nivard MG, Veul L, Holtz Y, Zietsch BP, Frayling TM, Wray NR, Yang J, Verweij KJH, Visscher PM. Genetic correlates of social stratification in Great Britain. Nat Hum Behav 2019; 3:1332-1342. [PMID: 31636407 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-019-0757-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Human DNA polymorphisms vary across geographic regions, with the most commonly observed variation reflecting distant ancestry differences. Here we investigate the geographic clustering of common genetic variants that influence complex traits in a sample of ~450,000 individuals from Great Britain. Of 33 traits analysed, 21 showed significant geographic clustering at the genetic level after controlling for ancestry, probably reflecting migration driven by socioeconomic status (SES). Alleles associated with educational attainment (EA) showed the most clustering, with EA-decreasing alleles clustering in lower SES areas such as coal mining areas. Individuals who leave coal mining areas carry more EA-increasing alleles on average than those in the rest of Great Britain. The level of geographic clustering is correlated with genetic associations between complex traits and regional measures of SES, health and cultural outcomes. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that social stratification leaves visible marks in geographic arrangements of common allele frequencies and gene-environment correlations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdel Abdellaoui
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Loic Yengo
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Kathryn E Kemper
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Michel G Nivard
- Department of Biological Psychology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Veul
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yan Holtz
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Brendan P Zietsch
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Timothy M Frayling
- Genetics of Complex Traits, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Naomi R Wray
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jian Yang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Karin J H Verweij
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter M Visscher
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. .,Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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Correlations between social dominance orientation and political attitudes reflect common genetic underpinnings. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:17741-17746. [PMID: 31431527 PMCID: PMC6731660 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1818711116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Deciphering the underlying psychology of societal attitudes and prejudices is important in times of political unpredictability. We focus on the foundational construct of preference for (or against) hierarchies between groups, as reflected in the 2 subdimensions of social dominance orientation (SDO). Studying SDO with a large-sample twin design, we show that both its sub-dimensions are heritable, share common genetic influences, and overlap genetically with 6 political attitudes that serve to enhance versus attenuate societal hierarchy. This suggests that desire for versus opposition to intergroup hierarchy, in abstract and concrete forms, constitutes a genetically-grounded behavioral syndrome, thus explaining an important part of the long-observed association among political views of various kinds. A foundational question in the social sciences concerns the interplay of underlying causes in the formation of people’s political beliefs and prejudices. What role, if any, do genes, environmental influences, or personality dispositions play? Social dominance orientation (SDO), an influential index of people’s general attitudes toward intergroup hierarchy, correlates robustly with political beliefs. SDO consists of the subdimensions SDO-dominance (SDO-D), which is the desire people have for some groups to be actively oppressed by others, and SDO-egalitarianism (SDO-E), a preference for intergroup inequality. Using a twin design (n = 1,987), we investigate whether the desire for intergroup dominance and inequality makes up a genetically grounded behavioral syndrome. Specifically, we investigate the heritability of SDO, in addition to whether it genetically correlates with support for political policies concerning the distribution of power and resources to different social groups. In addition to moderate heritability estimates for SDO-D and SDO-E (37% and 24%, respectively), we find that the genetic correlation between these subdimensions and political attitudes was overall high (mean genetic correlation 0.51), while the environmental correlation was very low (mean environmental correlation 0.08). This suggests that the relationship between political attitudes and SDO-D and SDO-E is grounded in common genetics, such that the desire for (versus opposition to) intergroup inequality and support for political attitudes that serve to enhance (versus attenuate) societal disparities form convergent strategies for navigating group-based dominance hierarchies.
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Weinschenk AC, Dawes CT, Kandler C, Bell E, Riemann R. New evidence on the link between genes, psychological traits, and political engagement. Politics Life Sci 2019; 38:1-13. [PMID: 31094675 DOI: 10.1017/pls.2019.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the link between genes, psychological traits, and political engagement using a new data set containing information on a large sample of young German twins. The TwinLife Study enables us to examine the predominant model of personality, the Big Five framework, as well as traits that fall outside the Big Five, such as cognitive ability, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the underpinnings of political engagement. Our results support previous work showing genetic overlap between some psychological traits and political engagement. More specifically, we find that cognitive ability and openness to experience are correlated with political engagement and that common genes can explain most of the relationship between these psychological traits and political engagement. Relationships between genes, psychological traits, and political engagement exist even at a fairly young age, which is an important finding given that previous work has relied heavily on older samples to study the link between genes, psychological traits, and political engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Edward Bell
- 4School of Behavioural & Social Sciences (Sociology),Brescia University College at Western University
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Abstract
Twin studies have revealed political ideology to be partially heritable. Neurological research has shown that ideological differences are reflected in brain structure and response, suggesting a direct genotype-phenotype link. Social and informational environments, however, also demonstrably affect brain structure and response. This leads to a "chicken-and-egg" question: do genes produce brains with ideological predispositions, causing the preferential absorption of consonant information and thereby forming an ideology, or do social and informational environments do most of the heavy lifting, with genetic evidence the spurious artifact of outdated methodology? Or are both inextricably intertwined contributors? This article investigates the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors to ideological development using a role-play experiment investigating the development of opinions on a novel political issue. The results support the view that the process is bidirectional, suggesting that, like most traits, political ideology is produced by the complex interplay of genetic and (social/informational) environmental influences.
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Weinschenk AC, Dawes CT. The genetic and psychological underpinnings of generalized social trust. JOURNAL OF TRUST RESEARCH 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/21515581.2018.1497516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aaron C. Weinschenk
- Department of Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Green Bay, WI, USA
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Bernabel RT, Oliveira A. Conservatism and liberalism predict performance in two nonideological cognitive tasks. Politics Life Sci 2017; 36:49-59. [PMID: 29355103 DOI: 10.1017/pls.2017.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Intuitive thinking would argue that political or ideological orientation does not correlate with nonpolitical decisions, and certainly not with nonideological cognitive tasks. However, that is what happens in some cases. Previous neuropolitics studies have found that liberals are more adept at dealing with novel information than conservatives. This finding suggests that conservatives and liberals possess different cognitive skills. For the purposes of this article, two studies were executed to test whether this difference remained in alternative environmental settings. To this end, two novel cognitive tasks were designed in which one type of ideology or another was privileged according to the cognitive environment created by the tasks. Experimental findings indicate that liberals committed fewer errors than conservatives in one kind of cognitive environment, while conservatives scored higher in another.
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The genetic and environmental foundations of political, psychological, social, and economic behaviors: a panel study of twins and families. Twin Res Hum Genet 2015; 18:243-55. [PMID: 25994545 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2015.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Here we introduce the Genetic and Environmental Foundations of Political and Economic Behaviors: A Panel Study of Twins and Families (PIs Alford, Hatemi, Hibbing, Martin, and Smith). This study was designed to explore the genetic and environmental influences on social, economic, and political behaviors and attitudes. It involves identifying the psychological mechanisms that operate on these traits, the heritability of complex economic and political traits under varying conditions, and specific genetic correlates of attitudes and behaviors. In addition to describing the study, we conduct novel analyses on the data, estimating the heritability of two traits so far unexplored in the extant literature: Machiavellianism and Baron-Cohen's Empathizing Quotient.
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Pokropek A, Sikora J. Heritability, family, school and academic achievement in adolescence. SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 2015; 53:73-88. [PMID: 26188439 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2015.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/10/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate how genetically informed designs can be applied to administrative exam data to study academic achievement. ACE mixture latent class models have been used with Year 6 and 9 exam data for seven cohorts of Polish students which include 24,285 pairs of twins. Depending on a learning domain and classroom environment history, from 58% to 88% of variance in exam results is attributable to heritability, up to 34% to shared environment and from 8% to 15% depends on unique events in students' lives. Moreover, between 54% and 66% of variance in students' learning gains made between Years 6 and 9 is explained by heritability. The unique environment accounts for between 34% and 46% of that variance. However, we find no classroom effects on student progress made between Years 6 and 9. We situate this finding against the view that classroom peer groups and teachers matter for adolescent learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Pokropek
- Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Nowy Świat 72, 00-330 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Joanna Sikora
- School of Sociology, Research School of Social Sciences, College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
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Plante CN, Roberts SE, Snider JS, Schroy C, Reysen S, Gerbasi K. ‘More than skin-deep’: Biological essentialism in response to a distinctiveness threat in a stigmatized fan community. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2014; 54:359-70. [DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2013] [Revised: 06/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Genetic influences on political ideologies: twin analyses of 19 measures of political ideologies from five democracies and genome-wide findings from three populations. Behav Genet 2014; 44:282-94. [PMID: 24569950 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-014-9648-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 02/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Almost 40 years ago, evidence from large studies of adult twins and their relatives suggested that between 30 and 60% of the variance in social and political attitudes could be explained by genetic influences. However, these findings have not been widely accepted or incorporated into the dominant paradigms that explain the etiology of political ideology. This has been attributed in part to measurement and sample limitations, as well the relative absence of molecular genetic studies. Here we present results from original analyses of a combined sample of over 12,000 twins pairs, ascertained from nine different studies conducted in five democracies, sampled over the course of four decades. We provide evidence that genetic factors play a role in the formation of political ideology, regardless of how ideology is measured, the era, or the population sampled. The only exception is a question that explicitly uses the phrase "Left-Right". We then present results from one of the first genome-wide association studies on political ideology using data from three samples: a 1990 Australian sample involving 6,894 individuals from 3,516 families; a 2008 Australian sample of 1,160 related individuals from 635 families and a 2010 Swedish sample involving 3,334 individuals from 2,607 families. No polymorphisms reached genome-wide significance in the meta-analysis. The combined evidence suggests that political ideology constitutes a fundamental aspect of one's genetically informed psychological disposition, but as Fisher proposed long ago, genetic influences on complex traits will be composed of thousands of markers of very small effects and it will require extremely large samples to have enough power in order to identify specific polymorphisms related to complex social traits.
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Hatemi PK. The Influence of Major Life Events on Economic Attitudes in a World of Gene-Environment Interplay. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE 2013; 57:987-1007. [PMID: 24860199 PMCID: PMC4031194 DOI: 10.1111/ajps.12037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The role of "genes" on political attitudes has gained attention across disciplines. However, person-specific experiences have yet to be incorporated into models that consider genetic influences. Relying on a gene-environment interplay approach, this study explicates how life-events, such as losing one's job or suffering a financial loss, influence economic policy attitudes. The results indicate genetic and environmental variance on support for unions, immigration, capitalism, socialism and property tax is moderated by financial risks. Changes in the magnitude of genetic influences, however, are temporary. After two years, the phenotypic effects of the life events remain on most attitudes, but changes in the sources of individual differences do not. Univariate twin models that estimate the independent contributions of genes and environment on the variation of attitudes appear to provide robust baseline indicators of sources of individual differences. These estimates, however, are not event or day specific. In this way, genetic influences add stability, while environment cues change, and this process is continually updated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter K. Hatemi
- Associate Professor, Political Science, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Research Fellow, The United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney Pennsylvania State University, 307 Pond Lab, University Park, PA 16802
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Liesen LT, Walsh MB. Embracing intellectual humility. A response to the biopolitics forum. Politics Life Sci 2013; 32:99-101. [PMID: 24047096 DOI: 10.2990/32_1_99] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laurette T Liesen
- Department of Political Science, Lewis University, One University Parkway, Romeoville, IL 60446,
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Joseph J. The lost study: a 1998 adoption study of personality that found no genetic relationship between birthparents and their 240 adopted-away biological offspring. ADVANCES IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIOR 2013; 45:93-124. [PMID: 23865114 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-397946-9.00005-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In 1998, Robert Plomin and his Colorado Adoption Project (CAP) colleagues published the results of a longitudinal adoption study of personality. They found an average personality test score correlation of only 0.01 between birthparents and their 240 adopted-away 16-year-old biological offspring, suggesting no genetic influences on personality. However, the researchers interpreted their results in the context of previous twin studies, produced an average 14% heritability estimate, and concluded that nonadditive genetic factors underlie personality traits. The author challenges these conclusions and notes that the near-zero correlation stands in contrast to other types of behavioral genetic methods, such as twin studies, that are more vulnerable to environmental confounds and other biases. The author shows that authoritative psychology texts frequently fail to mention this 1998 CAP study. When it is mentioned, the original researchers' conclusions are usually accepted without critical analysis. The author also assesses the results in the context of the 20-year failure to discover the genes that behavioral geneticists believe underlie personality traits. He concludes that this 1998 investigation is a "lost study" in the sense that, although it is one of the most methodologically sound behavioral genetic studies ever performed, its results are largely unknown.
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Verhulst B, Hatemi PK. Gene-Environment Interplay in Twin Models. POLITICAL ANALYSIS : AN ANNUAL PUBLICATION OF THE METHODOLOGY SECTION OF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION 2013; 21:368-389. [PMID: 24808718 PMCID: PMC3745269 DOI: 10.1093/pan/mpt005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In this article, we respond to Shultziner's critique that argues that identical twins are more alike not because of genetic similarity, but because they select into more similar environments and respond to stimuli in comparable ways, and that these effects bias twin model estimates to such an extent that they are invalid. The essay further argues that the theory and methods that undergird twin models, as well as the empirical studies which rely upon them, are unaware of these potential biases. We correct this and other misunderstandings in the essay and find that gene-environment (GE) interplay is a well-articulated concept in behavior genetics and political science, operationalized as gene-environment correlation and gene-environment interaction. Both are incorporated into interpretations of the classical twin design (CTD) and estimated in numerous empirical studies through extensions of the CTD. We then conduct simulations to quantify the influence of GE interplay on estimates from the CTD. Due to the criticism's mischaracterization of the CTD and GE interplay, combined with the absence of any empirical evidence to counter what is presented in the extant literature and this article, we conclude that the critique does not enhance our understanding of the processes that drive political traits, genetic or otherwise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brad Verhulst
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, 800 East Leigh Street, Biotech 1, Richmond, VA 23219 e-mail:
| | - Peter K Hatemi
- Department of Political Science, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Pennsylvania State University, 307 Pond Lab, University Park, PA 16802 e-mail: (corresponding author)
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Fletcher JM, Boardman JD. Integrating work from genetics and the social sciences: an introduction. BIODEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY 2013; 59:1-3. [PMID: 23701533 PMCID: PMC5844351 DOI: 10.1080/19485565.2013.774630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
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Verhulst B. Integrating classical and contemporary explanations of political participation. Twin Res Hum Genet 2012; 15:42-51. [PMID: 22784452 DOI: 10.1375/twin.15.1.42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Traditional theories of political participation have emphasized its social and normative components; however, recent evidence suggests that political participation has a strong additive genetic component. Accordingly, it is necessary to reevaluate the traditional empirical findings and begin to integrate the two approaches. To do so, a variety of analyses were conducted that explore the modes of genetic and environmental transmission. I find that the empirical estimates of the relationships between the phenotypic level traits are highly consistent with what has been found in the traditional literature, the vast majority of the variance in political participation that is accounted for by the predictor variables is being accounted for at the genetic level, and not at the environmental level. Thus, the current findings suggest that the empirical results found in prior studies are quite likely very accurate. However, the interpretation of those empirical findings, as well as the subsequent theoretical implications, require serious revision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brad Verhulst
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
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Hatemi PK, McDermott R. The genetics of politics: discovery, challenges, and progress. Trends Genet 2012; 28:525-33. [PMID: 22951140 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2012.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2012] [Revised: 07/06/2012] [Accepted: 07/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
For the greater part of human history, political behaviors, values, preferences, and institutions have been viewed as socially determined. Discoveries during the 1970s that identified genetic influences on political orientations remained unaddressed. However, over the past decade, an unprecedented amount of scholarship utilizing genetic models to expand the understanding of political traits has emerged. Here, we review the 'genetics of politics', focusing on the topics that have received the most attention: attitudes, ideologies, and pro-social political traits, including voting behavior and participation. The emergence of this research has sparked a broad paradigm shift in the study of political behaviors toward the inclusion of biological influences and recognition of the mutual co-dependence between genes and environment in forming political behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter K Hatemi
- Departments of Political Science, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Pennsylvania State University, 307 Pond Lab, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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Verhulst B, Hatemi PK, Eaves LJ. Disentangling the Importance of Psychological Predispositions and Social Constructions in the Organization of American Political Ideology. POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2012; 3:375-393. [PMID: 22904584 PMCID: PMC3418820 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9221.2012.00882.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Ideological preferences within the American electorate are contingent on both the environmental conditions that provide the content of the contemporary political debate and internal predispositions that motivate people to hold liberal or conservative policy preferences. In this article we apply Jost, Federico, and Napier's (2009) top-down/bottom-up theory of political attitude formation to a genetically informative population sample. In doing so, we further develop the theory by operationalizing the top-down pathway to be a function of the social environment and the bottom-up pathway as a latent set of genetic factors. By merging insights from psychology, behavioral genetics, and political science, we find strong support for the top-down/bottom-up framework that segregates the two independent pathways in the formation of political attitudes and identifies a different pattern of relationships between political attitudes at each level of analysis.
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Joseph J. The “Missing Heritability” of Psychiatric Disorders: Elusive Genes or Non-Existent Genes? APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL SCIENCE 2012. [DOI: 10.1080/10888691.2012.667343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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