NYT: Some Politics May Be Etched in the Genes

[dhinojosa]

By BENEDICT CAREY
Published: June 21, 2005

Political scientists have long held that people's upbringing and experience determine their political views. A child raised on peace protests and Bush-loathing generally tracks left as an adult, unless derailed by some powerful life experience. One reared on tax protests and a hatred of Kennedys usually lists to the right.

But on the basis of a new study, a team of political scientists is arguing that people's gut-level reaction to issues like the death penalty, taxes and abortion is strongly influenced by genetic inheritance. The new research builds on a series of studies that indicate that people's general approach to social issues - more conservative or more progressive - is influenced by genes.

Environmental influences like upbringing, the study suggests, play a more central role in party affiliation as a Democrat or Republican, much as they do in affiliation with a sports team.

The report, which appears in the current issue of The American Political Science Review, the profession's premier journal, uses genetics to help answer several open questions in political science.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

more at http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/21/science/21gene.html?8hpib

[justinsb]

1. All the more reason to

stop the Freepers inbreeding.

[mimitabby]

2. yeah, and that's what's really scary

they are having more kids than we are because they don't
have the sense not to.

[justinsb]

3. Well and because of family obligation

Who are their neices and nephews going to marry if they don't have enough children?

[dhinojosa]

4. Eh, they can birth them, but we can educate them.

hehe

[doni_georgia]

5. More conclusive evidence that I must be an alien

Everyone in my family is a conservative except me. As a young girl, when asked "what do you want to be when you grow up?" I would reply, "A flower child." My republican dad was always mortified.

[Moderator]

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