Genes and Political Engagement

Genetic predispositions may explain a nontrivial share of variation in political participation and civic behaviour, not just family socialization. Researchers should estimate how much parent–child political similarity stems from inherited traits (e.g., personality, cognitive styles) versus modeled behaviour and neighborhood effects. — If genetics substantially shapes civic engagement, debates about civic education, campaign outreach, and equality of political opportunity must account for biological heterogeneity and design interventions that work across inherited dispositions.