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Not by Twins Alone: Using the Extended Family Design to Investigate Genetic Influence on Political Beliefs

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  • Peter K. Hatemi
  • John R. Hibbing
  • Sarah E. Medland
  • Matthew C. Keller
  • John R. Alford
  • Kevin B. Smith
  • Nicholas G. Martin
  • Lindon J. Eaves

Abstract

Variance components estimates of political and social attitudes suggest a substantial level of genetic influence, but the results have been challenged because they rely on data from twins only. In this analysis, we include responses from parents and nontwin full siblings of twins, account for measurement error by using a panel design, and estimate genetic and environmental variance by maximum‐likelihood structural equation modeling. By doing so, we address the central concerns of critics, including that the twin‐only design offers no verification of either the equal environments or random mating assumptions. Moving beyond the twin‐only design leads to the conclusion that for most political and social attitudes, genetic influences account for an even greater proportion of individual differences than reported by studies using more limited data and more elementary estimation techniques. These findings make it increasingly difficult to deny that—however indirectly—genetics plays a role in the formation of political and social attitudes.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter K. Hatemi & John R. Hibbing & Sarah E. Medland & Matthew C. Keller & John R. Alford & Kevin B. Smith & Nicholas G. Martin & Lindon J. Eaves, 2010. "Not by Twins Alone: Using the Extended Family Design to Investigate Genetic Influence on Political Beliefs," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 54(3), pages 798-814, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:amposc:v:54:y:2010:i:3:p:798-814
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5907.2010.00461.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alford, John R. & Funk, Carolyn L. & Hibbing, John R., 2005. "Are Political Orientations Genetically Transmitted?," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 99(2), pages 153-167, May.
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    5. Medland, Sarah E. & Hatemi, Peter K., 2009. "Political Science, Biometric Theory, and Twin Studies: A Methodological Introduction," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(2), pages 191-214, April.
    6. S. Rabe-Hesketh & A. Skrondal & H. K. Gjessing, 2008. "Biometrical Modeling of Twin and Family Data Using Standard Mixed Model Software," Biometrics, The International Biometric Society, vol. 64(1), pages 280-288, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Brañas Garza, Pablo & Espinosa Alejos, María Paz & Giritligil, Ayca E., 2013. "Democratic Values Transmission," DFAEII Working Papers 1988-088X, University of the Basque Country - Department of Foundations of Economic Analysis II.
    2. Alexandra Avdeenko & Thomas Siedler, 2017. "Intergenerational Correlations of Extreme Right‐Wing Party Preferences and Attitudes toward Immigration," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 119(3), pages 768-800, July.
    3. Peter K Hatemi & Lindon Eaves & Rose McDermott, 2012. "It’s the end of ideology as we know it," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 24(3), pages 345-369, July.
    4. Brañas-Garza, Pablo & Espinosa, María Paz & Giritligil, Ayca E., 2022. "On the transmission of democratic values," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 885-896.
    5. Peter K Hatemi & Enda Byrne & Rose McDermott, 2012. "Introduction: What is a ‘gene’ and why does it matter for political science?," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 24(3), pages 305-327, July.
    6. Neugart, Michael & Yildirim, Selen, 2020. "What determines perceived income justice? Evidence from the German TwinLife study," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 36(C).

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