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 Our genetic makeup may play a role in our political behavior, according to researchers.
August 28th, 2012
11:52 AM ET
How you vote may be in your genesEver wonder why we vote the way we do? Is it the influence of family? Or is it because of our culture or where we grew up? Could be, but now researchers are saying it might be in our genes. Scientists have always wondered what drives our political behavior, and why some of us are passionate over some issues and not others. Now investigators have found it could be something deeper than the "I Like Ike" button your grandfather wore. Traditionally, social scientists have felt that our political preferences were influenced by environmental factors as well as how and where we grew up. But recently, studies are finding it could be biological and that our genes also influence our political tastes. In a review out of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, data showed that genetic makeup has some influence on why people differ on such issues as unemployment, abortion, even the death penalty. By pinpointing certain genes in the human body, scientists can predict parts of a person's political ideology. "Some people are naturally groupish, others not so much. Some people are sexually free, others sexually repressed. "Some part of these differences is from rearing and culture, but massive variation exists even within the same household. One's overall genetic disposition has some role in the formation of one's psychological architecture," notes Peter K. Hatemi, associate professor of political science and microbiology at Penn State University, as well as a research fellow at the USSC-University of Sydney and the primary investigator of the study. The review, which was published in this week's issue of Trends in Genetics, notes more research needs to be done to better understand the genetic influences of our social views and why certain genes cause reactions in certain people when political views are expressed. “The concept that thousands of genes interacting with the environment lead to different cognitive and emotive states that result in different political views has value," explains Hatemi. "Rather than people on opposing sides of the political fence yelling at each about who is right, or trying to show or convince the other is wrong, maybe this research can help the public and policy makers recognize that people see the same thing differently, and at times no amount of yelling or 'proof' will sway them.”
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This only applies if you are black and you are voting for a black president.
What an i_diot.
...and I'm sure you're being white and ignorant enough to make a racist remark will have no impact on how you vote this November. Interestingly enough, studies have shown that people with low IQ scores are more likely to vote for conservative candidates and are less likely to adapt to change. I wish survival of the fittest were more the rule in society, so we could leave your kind in the Dark Ages while the rest of us progress to a better civilization.
@sourgrapes–
Care to cite one of these studies that tie low IQ to conservatism? I'd be very interested to read it.
Google "Low IQ Conservative" and you can find the links. Huffington Post is the first link.
@guest - Google "low iq conservative" and it will take you to the LiveScience site (among many others). Read the whole article, but the gist is:
"As suspected, low intelligence in childhood corresponded with racism in adulthood. But the factor that explained the relationship between these two variables was political: When researchers included social conservatism in the analysis, those ideologies accounted for much of the link between brains and bias."
and
"There is reason to believe that strict right-wing ideology might appeal to those who have trouble grasping the complexity of the world. Socially conservative ideologies tend to offer structure and order," Hodson said, explaining why these beliefs might draw those with low intelligence. "
So that's a no? We're just going to make claims and when pressed for a citation your answer is "Google it"?
Academic standards are falling, I guess.
@sourgrapes candyapple laid a trap for you and you jumped right in. Not too smart!
It took me about five seconds on Google to find, in addition to the Live Science article, another article filled with criticisms on the study's methodology.
":In another study, this one in the United States, Hodson and Busseri compared 254 people with the same amount of education but different levels of ability in abstract reasoning."
I remain unconvinced and skeptical of the claim that conservatism can be explained away by low IQ. You'll need to sample more than 254 people to make such an outrageous claim.
Low IQ Conservative
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2012/01/social-conservatives-have-a-lower-i-q-probably/
Guest – FYI – Google IS a search engine you can use to look up links to any study you want – provided you have the ability to discern a real scientific study from all kinds of stuff out there.
RL, turn in a research paper with "Google" on your works cited list and see how well it goes. Anyway, all this is beside the point that the "study" is not exactly top-tier peer-reviewed science. Looks like a thinly-veiled attack on a specific political ideology to me.
In my own experience, I find fiscal conservatives are of normal intelligence, but social conservatives are dumb as stumps. The more overtly racist or anti-gay someone is, the more their own personal lives seem to be a disaster... There is also a way that social conservatives speak when talking about their beliefs... mushy mouthed... like a child knowing he is doing something wrong. Heck, you can even see it in the politicians when they talk about the rape-abortion issue... they lose their ability to enunciate their words.
Tribal animal pack mentality. They know they cannot achieve anything as individuals due to an utter lack of intellect, and yet, because of this deficiency, they cannot get along enough to work as a group to achieve anything either.
Oh look. Tracy's conducted another study for us all to marvel at. In her personal experience, she's discovered all sorts of truths about conservatism. I guess I should just retract my whole argument, huh?
People that want to use government as the Cudgel of Morality to force us all to live by their rules have plenty wrong with them, but you can make a much more compelling argument than "they're just dumb." Not to mention, it lets them off the hook too easily by insinuating that they don't know any better.
I'm the opposite of a social conservative so I'm not defending them out of solidarity, but you're not helping the cause with such flimsy positions.
This is a CNN comment section... You take yourself a bit too seriously. But, sure why not? Why can't personal observation affect my judgement? Its a darn sight better than thinking that Genes have anything to do with it....
You guys are forgetting that a lot of conservatives don't believe in science. Their founding fathers rode dinosaurs and preached Christianity.
And here we go. Democracy is only for smart people, right? Dumb people shouldn't be allowed to vote right? And, further, they should probably abort any pregnancies too, right?
Let's just call it eugenics and be done with it.
Could you bend over and repeat that please?
Tracy,
Fair enough, you didn't present your views as scientific evidence and I apologize for jumping on them as if you had done so.
Stupidconservative,
Someone should attempt a study in that arena, it's probably a much stronger foundation to build a claim like this on. The public polls that show something like 47% of our population believe in creationism are mind-boggling and a lot of the apparent social conservatives posting here aren't really helping themselves either.
hahahahaha
It should be no surprise that low IQ that leads to a resistance to change that leads to conservative support. That does not, however, mean that conservatism leads to a low IQ or is indicitive of it – only that the low IQ will tend to follow conservative leadership when offered.
This is like argueing that liberal leadership must be poor, because poor people tend to vote for liberal leadership. That, is obviously, not the case since liberal leadership has traditionally been among the wealthiest of Americans (note that conservative leadership has also traditionally been wealthy – before you flame that observation ask yourself which of the two multimillionares you will be voting for this fall, because they both are).
I find the calls for social darwinism to end conservatism, however, to be foolish, hateful, and backwards. Social Darwinism would only aid the conservative cause, since social darwinism consumes not the stupid, but the poor and liberals depend on the poor masses to be elected.
Historically, the conservative party is the party of the rich, which seeks to win by harnessing the votes of the rich and the middle class, since the middle class wants to be rich, and the party of the rich wants the middle class to become and strive to be rich (they benefit from the increase in wealth among the middle class).
Historically, the liberal party is the party of the poor, which seeks to win by harnessing the votes of the poor by promissing them programs that will support them (they benefit from the poor being supported in poverty so that they remain loyal voters).
I tend to vote conservative, because I am middle class and wish to remain middle class or progress into wealth.
If I was rich, I would tend to vote conservative, because I would want to stay rich or grow more wealthy.
If I was the richest of the rich, money would loose all meaning to me, and I would become a liberal, and attempt to harness the numbers of the poor to support my power by giving them just enough to stay poor, dependent, and dependable voters for my regieme.
If I was poor, I probably wouldn't have the insight, intellect, or self control to pull myself from the government's aid long enough to change my station (if I could, I would become middle-class and a conservative), so I would continue being a welfare slave to the liberal agenda.
To Sourgrapes: A study published in Psychological Science, showed that people who score low on I.Q. tests in childhood are more likely to develop prejudiced beliefs and socially conservative politics in adulthood.
If low IQs lead to racism, wouldn't that make them liberals? (Which makes sense, because I've never met or even heard of an intelligent liberal) The Democratic party, after all, is responsible for the KKK, and was the largest opposition to the end of slavery, and the start of civil and equal rights. Republicans, on the other hand, we responsible for the end of slavery, and pushed through some of the most key legislation in terms of civil rights and equality.
So, the jump from "low IQ" to "racist" makes perfect sense, but the jump from "racist" to "conservative" does not.
It's also worth mentioning that there have been studies that show that Conservatism tends to fall into not only the low-educated (not to be confused with low IQ), but also into the super-educated realms. So, Conservatives fall into the K-through-12 realm, and then (IIRC) masters-degree-and-above crowd. Liberals tend to be in the some-college-to-associates grouping. What that tells me is that Liberals are just easily brainwashed when they get to college, and those that progress to masters or doctorate degrees are smart enough not to get brainwashed - and smart enough to know that Conservatism is the right thing to do.
@Oakspar : Well said!
And it is views like this that made me switch from Republican to Democrat years ago.
Wow, "Nate", that's a really clever name you have there. I bet you're really proud of having bypassed the censors w. that.
"It's also worth mentioning that there have been studies that show that Conservatism tends to fall into not only the low-educated (not to be confused with low IQ), but also into the super-educated realms."
Eric....did you stop to consider that going to an Ivy League school is not the same as being "super-educated"? And that it's easier for a wealthy Conservative to legacy into an Ivy Leagus school than the average person (who generally votes Dem)? W. went to Yale...and he's not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Also, please cite your studies instead of just proclaiming that "studies show".
"If low IQs lead to racism, wouldn't that make them liberals? (Which makes sense, because I've never met or even heard of an intelligent liberal) The Democratic party, after all, is responsible for the KKK, and was the largest opposition to the end of slavery, and the start of civil and equal rights. "
You don't get out much, do you? To proclaim that there are no intelligent liberals is simply ridiculous and you know it.
Also, brush up on your history: those were Dixicrats, not the Democratic party of today. The Democrat party of Lincoln's day became the GOP and vice versa.
If they had any reasonable level of intellect, then they wouldn't be liberals at all, now would they? They would know better.
Just what we need, political eugenics! You will be given forced sterilization based on how your family votes.
No, not really. You will be given gene therapy if you want to vote differently. And ofcourse the Government will pay for that if you are conflicted.
I have 6 brothers and sisters and age range is 25 yrs from oldest to youngest. The first 4 tend to be conservative and the last 3 tend to be more liberal. Seems to point to cultural and environment rather than genes. Father voted Democrat.
Your sample size is way too small to be applied to the population at large. Generally, the genetic connection is this. Logical thinkers and intelligent people are moderate and trend toward the center. Emotional people who disregard reason lean to the extreme left. Selfish or overly analytical people who completely disregard human suffering of others trend to the extreme right.
I agree with Steven, the exterme left and the exterme right get all the attention and have too much influence over our political process.
I agree with Steven as well. Although, I think that we cannot throw out the fact that personal situations and influences (friends, family, jobs, community opinion) can dramatically swing a person from extreme left to extreme right or the other way around. Those that are moderates and base their views on intelligent and logical thinking should still stay towards the center.
I have 5 brothers and 2 sisters, 4 have brown hair and 3 have blonde hair. Seems like it's environmental rather than genetics. Father has brown hair, by the way.
Oh yes, lets forget about the role media plays in misleading and misdirecting the people to vote against their own interests and keep voting for corrupt politicians that cut their own throats.
Now CNN wants to suggest that its somehow genetic?
It’s clear that people don’t see beyond what’s put right in front of them, which is why companies advertise. Even if a business has the best product in the world, they all know they have to have the best, and most advertising for said product to be successful because people won’t go looking for it.
The media and press in America today shows the public no one but the candidates from the same two political parties, and even misleads and misdirects the public on legislation and policy, then has the gall to claim peoples votes are influenced more by genes than by what they see and hear in the press. You’re peeing down our backs and telling us its rain.
But maybe your right, maybe there is a genetic element, after all intelligence tends to be genetic and the majority of people are clearly too stupid to get this tiered old song and dance and are in fact so stupid as to not question what the media and press tells them even though these companies are owned by the same rich people who have corrupted our elected officials.
So you're saying that CNN conducted the research? Because, if you read the article, you would know that the research was done by Peter K. Hatemi, et al. They don't work for CNN.
I don't know that I entirely agree with your stance but I do think that the bias introduced by the media to those that are easily influenced seems to be considerably larger these days than I have previously noticed. Articles on the front page of CNN showcasing the extremist views of one or two members of the party at this stage in the game should have no influence on a voters decision whatsoever but in sequence and consistently against the same party could have a huge impact on the impression on the party as a whole even if it is based on a handful of people from that party.
For this reason, I do not vote AGAINST anyone. I only vote for a candidate based on their opinions and ideals. If I hear someone say, I am going to vote just to null out someone elses vote or simply to vote against an existing candidate with no good reason then I can always see someone who has been biased by either media or by some other source (friends, family, commercials, local community, etc.). Why else do you see people standing in the parking lot of the voting booths. They know that they can swing people at the last minute and that sadly can be the case.
So I take it republicans have the gene for stupid and d-bag?
It's so nice to see that the our President has brought us together like he promised.
Basically.
I have no political affiliation & have never voted, but this comment is what's wrong with America. Until we change our way of thinking, things in government (on either side) will never change, it will just feed on our hateful thoughts.
That nagger in the article's picture looks just like it could be oblabla's daughter sprog!
Nate...You are just the type of person most people would like to genetically change. Maybe with genetics, we can find a way to rid people of hate and prejudice.
Well, blacks are the most hating (and self-hating, for sure) and prejudiced creatures on this planet. Shall we start with them? At least then, the world would smell a lot better.
Hogwash! I voted democrat because I was young, dumb and clueless on the concept of government. I've since educated myself and vote Republican. Our opinions change with our understanding, which influences our choices.
Oh, Brother!
I see that you have grown up to be a DBman.
Some people DO get greedier as they get older.
you could have put that more intelligently. Many, if not all, people vote after analyzing the options. As their values change (or should I say "evolve"?) so do their voting patterns. In other words we are not pre-determined by our genes.
Hogwash? Are you from 1952? Too bad you vote for the party that wants to make your life worse, as an older person. Why vote against your own best interests?
That might explain why blacks will only vote for oblabla, regardless of his failed policies, just because he is black.
They never had any evolution at all, past the primate stage.
Great article. So we know there are genes that may influence political ideology, but we don't know anything about them? How they affect us? Give us an article with some information CNN!
Sure it's in your genes. If you a rational thinking person, you will support conservative ideas. If you are a non-thinking "touchy-feely" type person who bases their decisions on emotions, you will support liberal ideas.
Yuck.
If you are a "rational" person who sees the world only in terms of black and white – and good guys and bad guys – then you will vote "Conservative".
And if you are a wishy washy, relativist you will vote liberal?
Any vote for a Demoncrat is a vote for even more nagger free handouts, welfare, food stamps, free public housing, free cell phones, free internet, free college, and free health care.
Oh, but it's not necessarily "free", you, the taxpayer, are paying for it ALL.
TSB8C, you are close – but I would word it as if you are greedy and unfeeling and only care about $$$$ you will support conservative policy. Not all rational people are like that. You can be rational and intelligent and also have a conscience and be empathetic in which case you'll be more liberal.
Ah, so that's why Republicans are against abortion. "I saved your life, now vote for me."
Ah, so that's why Democrats are for abortion. "I allowed you to be born when I could have chosen otherwise, now vote for me."
Is this code for "shut up about your political views," or what?
My genes are telling me to vote for the candidate least likely to screw me over as a citizen!
Good luck with that–there ain't no such thing.
I do believe Henry hit the nail on the head.
I believe they spelled "genes" incorrectly. I think how most people vote is more likely related to the ass in the "jeans".
It's "research" like this that has people turning their backs on science.
I agree that there is bad research out there but a consensus among scientists is a good indication of validity. On the other hand, if anyone turns their back on science it's because they don't have the capacity to comprehend it.
Perhaps so, but some people change their allegiance at some point in their lives. Perhaps genes play a role in those who don't think too deeply or get educated about political and economic philosophy?
another ridiculous article from CNN.. if so, why did i vote for 3 different parties in my lifetime??
schizophrenia?
Just look at the look of fear, distrust, hatred on the nagger in the picture of this article.....it's the same look naggers give Whites and other human beings every single day on the streets. Of course, it is clearly obvious who it will be voting for.....all because he's a nagger, too.
I just hope human beings wake up this November, we need to get a human being back into the White House, finally. Four years is way too much monkey business.
Really, I just assumed that the woman in the other booth was her elderly mom (the one with the cane) and she was just looking over to see if she needed anything. But then again, I have a feeling you aren't much of a caretaker, so you wouldn't see that in her eyes.
Could you bend over and repeat that? And don't spill your beer in the process.
I'm going to come up with a notion that some may have a gut feeling is plausible, yet nonetheless a notion that either is impossible to test with full scientific integrity on a sufficiently large sample of the population or is just entirely impractical to implement (i.e., my theory will not be falsifiable). Then I'll sell my article to the media and label it as a real scientific article filed under 2012 Election • Genetics • Health & Politics • Living Well.
*Blank Stare* slow news day ?
............. if it hadn't of been for that horse ... I never would have spent that year in college .
These days, how you vote is more likely to be in the parking lot if your area uses all electronic voting machines.
WHEN you vote, go through your ballot, then go BACK and check it – make sure that the candidates marked are the ones YOU chose. A relatively new way of stealing votes/elections is called "man in the middle" vote tampering where someone sits within wireless range of the voting machine, and changes your vote after you move on down the ballot and before you pull the lever/push the button. This method of voting fraud is UNDETECTABLE!!! All I'm saying is that if you really want to vote for YOUR candidate, make sure you check the ballot BEFORE you finalize the vote!!!
It would explain a lot.
Genetics and RWA. Lincoln and Douglas. Diversity of thought. No refunds from your parents are available.
Another stupid idiotic irrelevant waste of time, did I say stupid, survey / someone's opinion to be discredited at a later date.
This may be why America's founders thought a system of checks and balances, including a bicameral legislature, would be a good way for people with different points of view to decide things.
Using IQ as a way to denigrate Conservatives is only useful if everyone already uses IQ as a common standard of value or worth. What if some people don't think IQ is important in the valuing of human beings? To some people physical strength might be more important than one's IQ level.
You are right,I have many conservative friends,they are quite nice,although not very bright.
This sort of changes the abortion issue? Kill the genes that support your party?
Funny thing about genes. Like family values, they're passed down from your parents also. This takes a rather simplistic, cause-effect view of genetics
This article is a load of crap. Voting preferences are ingrained through our childhood environment. I'm a Democrat because all my relatives were working class Irish Catholic. Some of them ran Taminy Hall which provided a passage way for the Irish to the middle class via public service jobs. My relatives maintained that I would be struck dead and go straight to hell if I ever dared to pull a Republican lever.
Does this mean that the 'dumbing down' of America and our ever increasingly short attention span is creating a more conservative view of the world? If the argument of the theory that a conservative belief system lends structure and order to a complex world, then we should see a gravitation toward conservatism with the most attention deficit being on the more extreme end of the right, correct? While the more intelligent fall towards the left would be the other logical conclusion.
There is hope for the Tea Party yet.
When I was afraid of sex, I admit that I voted conservative. Now that I have "been there, done that" I seem to lean more democrat and sexual freedom. I'm happier this way, with the only fear that conservatives will take away that freedom some day. 🙁
I believe this is true. If it's in your nature to work hard and earn what you have then you'll likely vote republican. If you don't want to work and want someone to take care of you then you'll probably vote democrat.
The Canada study of lower IQ scores for conservatives is easy to locate,any conservatives who have trouble understanding it may be able to locate a liberal friend who can slowly & simply explain it to them.
Too bad progressives don't believe in genetics, attributing differences in intelligence to environmental factors. Anyway it is hard to see how anyone could support the democrats other than a fool or a parasite (college professors and others dependent on the state).
Hopefully, with further research in this field they will some day find a cure for liberalism.
I vote based on the life that I have lived. I see the government controlled by the wealthy and giving all of our National Wealth and even our sovereignty to them. I see remarks on here by repugs slamming professors and education. That is the true colors of the GOP. As a working man, I can't logically vote for a party that wants to take what little I have and give it to a billionaire.
Do we really want research into genetic reasons for our political opinions? The last thing we want is the ability to genetically engineer Republicans or Democrats. My politcal views are based on how I was raised, my education, my life experiences, and my perception of the world around me. My views and opinions are my choice. They aren't preordained by genetics or even by God.
Here we go again, can't you just read the article for sake of building your intellect? Why do we have to bring the R and D or C and L into the rebuttal? Can't we just make up our own mind as to what is right and wrong,without looking for your party line? Yes there are racist remarks in some of the above comments but those are responded to in kind. One is no better than the other.
Republican and Democrat should be replaced with R&D where you research and develop your ideals based on intellect rather than party line and or your genes
I've always felt lucky with a good genetic makeup. At 53, I'm healthy, have all my hair and teeth, can hear and see just fine and last saw a doctor 10 years ago. I always thought how fortunate I was, and thanked my dad often. This was before I knew that good ole dads genes, kept me from being a complete and utter moron at the polls. I've never voted for a rethuglican in my life. Thanks Dad!
More researchers, more studies, more experts!!!! No wonder this country is going to heck in a hand basket!! My vote has less to do with what is in my genes and a heck of a lot more than what is in my jeans including a thin wallet getting thinner.
How I vote *IS* coded in my genes. I have two X chromosomes, therefore I don't vote Republican (with exceptions – I vote based on how I rate the candidate in question, not their party affiliation).
Obviously genetics play a significant role in voting decisions! This is so silly! I bet the woman in the image above is voting for Mitt Romney! hahahah
I created a Yak for anyone that wants to discuss this article in real time. Check it http://www.yakka.im/yak/how-you-vote-may-be-in-your-genes
This research is clearly flawed. 90% of blacks at one point voted Republican. Now it's 90% Democrat. How do you explain that?
They have changed their mind. Blacks feel the Reps do not represent their values.
they are right
Incredible! The genetic angle confirms half the population of the US is stupid. sisi wote ni wajinga
If you are black, you are genetically compelled to vote democrat okay guys. You don't have a mind capable of independent thought. You are not capable of forming your own conclusions about the world based on intelligent observation of the world around you. You are black and you must vote democrat because your genes make it impossible for you to act in any other way.
Your post only confirms your genes have a few issues to solve in order to become human.
i was merely summarizing the article. i actually believe that this piece of garbage should never have made it onto the website. and your glaring inability to recognize sarcasm indicates a few things about your genes, mister.
Its definitely an evolutionary thing. The GOP is still in the stone age.
The science is this: Different groups of prehistoric man preferred different ways of making it. Some found altruism and cooperation and mutual assistance were good, others found that dog eat dog, social darwinism worked best. Those two strains are still in our genes. It does help explain why I think that anyone who would vote for Romney is nuts, and others think anyone who would vote for Obama is nuts.
You haven't explained why those of us who do not associate ourselves with the left/right political spectrum think that ALL OF YOU ARE NUTS.
A Vote for any of the clowns running is plain d-u-m-b
You should try shaking the boom boom a bit more.
The method used for this study uses the same seriously flawed methods that are used to prove mental illness is genetic. Read Jay Joseph, PHD critique of this study and many others.
http://jayjoseph.net/the_gene_illusion
the arrogance of the liberal is splendidly displayed in these comments. Everyone who disagrees with them is unintelligent- they even sound "mushy" when they speak! So unintelligent are the great masses that they need these liberal Protectors of the Downtrodden to run society for them.
It may come as news to these intellectual giants that there are many kinds of intelligence. The most "primitive" people in the world have intelligence fully capable of helping them understand and control their worlds.
Funny. You have just committed the same sin you accuse the liberals of committing.
Butch. I am not afraid to admit I am not perfect. Your sarcasm was only recognised when you said black were right about the Reps not representing their values.
My genes don't affect how I vote. Unless my genes have changed over the years....
More drivel.......
You are absolutely right! yote hii ni takataka