The Relationship Between Genes, Cognitive and Personality Traits, and Political Participation

Several recent twin studies have demonstrated that political participation can be explained in part by genetic variation. Further, there is evidence suggesting that cognitive ability and personality traits mediate the... [ view full abstract ]

Several recent twin studies have demonstrated that political participation can be explained in part by genetic variation. Further, there is evidence suggesting that cognitive ability and personality traits mediate the relationship between genes and political participation.  In this study, we construct polygenic scores for cognitive (educational attainment and verbal ability) and personality (extraversion and neuroticism) traits that are strong predictors of individual differences in political participation in order to test whether these traits are pathways through which genes may indirectly influence political participation.  

We conduct our analysis based on two US samples (Minnesota Twin and Family Study and the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health) and one Swedish sample (Swedish Twin Registry).  We find that each of the polygenic scores are significantly associated with political participation, however the strongest relationship is between educational attainment and political participation.  Interestingly, the associations we report are not entirely mediated by cognitive and personality traits.