Is There a “Party” in Your Genes?

2008/12/18 by Peter Hatemi, John R. Alford, John R. Hibbing +2 · 138 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Psychology · #Biology #Cognitive Abilities and Testing #Gene #Genetic Associations and Epidemiology #Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock #Genetics #Identification (biology) #Law #Phenotype #Political science #Politics

paper · doi:10.1177/1065912908327606

published in Political Research Quarterly 62(3), 584-600 (SAGE Publishing)

openalex publication_date 2008/12/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01

Abstract

Utilizing quantitative genetic models, the authors examine the sources of party identification and the intensity of that identification. The results indicate genes exert little, if any, influence on party identification, directly or indirectly through covariates. However, we find that genes appear to play a pivotal role in shaping the strength of an individual’s party identification. Together with recent examinations of political attitudes and vote choice, these findings begin to provide a more complete picture of the source of partisanship and the complex nature of the political phenotype.

Citations

• Falsification and the Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes
• Politics across Generations: Family Transmission Reexamined
• Genetic and environmental influences on human psychological differences
• Nothing in Biology Makes Sense except in the Light of Evolution
• The Cholesky approach: A cautionary note
• The Genetics of Voting: An Australian Twin Study
• Sizing up human height variation
• Reciprocal Effects of Policy Preferences, Party Loyalties and the Vote

Cited by

• How Institutions Evolve: Evolutionary Theory and Institutional Change
• Intergenerational Correlations of Extreme Right‐Wing Party Preferences and Attitudes toward Immigration
• The right look: Conservative politicians look better and voters reward it
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