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The Relationship between Genes, Psychological Traits, and Political Participation

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  • Christopher Dawes
  • David Cesarini
  • James H. Fowler
  • Magnus Johannesson
  • Patrik K. E. Magnusson
  • Sven Oskarsson

Abstract

Recent research demonstrates that a wide range of political attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors can be explained in part by genetic variation. However, these studies have not yet identified the mechanisms that generate such a relationship. Some scholars have speculated that psychological traits mediate the relationship between genes and political participation, but so far there have been no empirical tests. Here we focus on the role of three psychological traits that are believed to influence political participation: cognitive ability, personal control, and extraversion. Utilizing a unique sample of more than 2,000 Swedish twin pairs, we show that a common genetic factor can explain most of the relationship between these psychological traits and acts of political participation, as well as predispositions related to participation. While our analysis is not a definitive test, our results suggest an upper bound for a proposed mediation relationship between genes, psychological traits, and political participation.

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  • Christopher Dawes & David Cesarini & James H. Fowler & Magnus Johannesson & Patrik K. E. Magnusson & Sven Oskarsson, 2014. "The Relationship between Genes, Psychological Traits, and Political Participation," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 58(4), pages 888-903, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:amposc:v:58:y:2014:i:4:p:888-903
    DOI: 10.1111/ajps.12100
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    Cited by:

    1. Nico Seifert, 2018. "Yet Another Case of Nordic Exceptionalism? Extending Existing Evidence for a Causal Relationship Between Institutional and Social Trust to the Netherlands and Switzerland," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 539-555, April.
    2. Lindgren, Karl-Oskar & Oskarsson, Sven & Persson, Mikael, 2016. "How does access to education influence political candidacy? Lessons from school openings in Sweden," Working Paper Series 2016:7, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.

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