Chapter 14
For decades political scientists have used empirical methods to unwrap the mysteries of why some people participate in politics and others do not. “Rational choice” theorists have used a cost-benefit analysis to explain such participation, based on the premise that if the perceived costs outweigh the perceived benefits, an individual will “sit out” an election. Others have used social-psychological explanations such as the perceived benefits of group membership, the strength of a person’s attachment to a political party or candidate, and the level of interest in the campaign or the candidates. Still others have focused on such additional factors as sense of civic duty, proximity to the polling place, and barriers to registration. Some of the research has identified patterns of participation, but no clear and convincing factors have been identified that consistently explain participation with any large degree of confidence.
Some recent research, however, may hold the key to unlock the mystery of political participation. A study released by a group of political scientists in 2008 found a strong relationship between an individual’s genetic make-up and his or her propensity to participate in politics. The research found that individual genetic differences account for a significant amount of variation in political participation, even after controlling for the effects of many of the more common factors researchers have associated with participation, such as education, age, income, socialization factors, and attitudes. The researchers—James H. Fowler, Laura A. Baker, and Christopher T. Dawes—discussed the findings of their study in an article entitled “Genetic Variation in Political Participation,” published in the May 2008 issue of the American Political Science Review. In conducting their study, the researchers examined a national panel of over 800 twins, along with nearly 400 twins in southern California. They discovered that a wide variety of types of political activity, including running for office, attending political rallies, and contributing money to candidates and parties, could be partially explained by genetic factors.