Genetic variation can help explain variation in political behavior. Could the brain have adapted to solve political social problems?
Associations between voter turnout and monoamine oxidase A gene have been established and between voter turnout and a dopamine receptor gene, mediated by significant association between that gene and the tendency to affiliate with a political party.
Psychologists identified a motivational basis for the stable core of conservative ideology, claiming that it is adopted in part to establish a variety of psychological needs.
Politics may be a form of social cognition similar to playground cognition that is cognizant of social hierarchy and that engages in coalitional cognition.
Brain areas can be implicated in emotion-based decision-making, but the same areas are activated in subjects from both major American political parties.
fMRI trials with greater belief resistance showed increased response in dmPFC and decreased activity in OFC, where participants who changed their minds showed less BOLD signal in the insula and amygdala while considering counter evidence.
Facial coding, biofeedback, and brain imaging are being used in marketing and campaigning, though many neuroscientists are critical.
Discussion
Do we agree that we should recognize that “genes are institutions of the human body?”
Genes are instructions. Institutions are large conglomerates that have distinct, direct, and established laws that only often have smaller, surface-level changes. Genes could be seen through this lens.
Author seems to be trying to establish a sense of permanence.
What is the significance of neuropolitics research? Why might we do it and what are its potential impacts?
Neuropolitics can influence voters and tailor messages to voters. A branch of voter research.
Voters are constantly being manipulated.
The methods being used only show correlational data. Same patterns of activation can occur for disparate opinions.
Neuromarketing
We can gauge the value spectrum (mOFC).
Targeted marketing.
Is behavioral micro-targeting ethical? Could it contribute to the echo chamber effect?
Campaigning off of principles and ideals rather than actions.
Fowler, Baker, & Dawes (2008) Genetic Variation in Political Participation. The American Political Science Review, 102(2), 233-248. The Journal of Politics, 70(3), 579-594.
Fowler & Dawes (2008) Two Genes Predict Voter Turnout.
Fowler & Schreiber (2009) Biology, politics, and the emerging science of human nature. Science, 322(5903), 912-4.
Schreiber (2017) Neuropolitics: Twenty years later. Politics and the Life Sciences, 32(2), 114-131.
Westen, et al (2006) Neural Bases of Motivated Reasoning: An fMRI Study of Emotional Constraints on Partisan Political Judgment in the 2004 US Presidential Election. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 18(11), 1947-58.