Does biology influence our political opinions?

Now this biological study goes along with a collection of thoughts published in the U.K. Sebastian Kraemer and Jane Roberts edited The Attachment of Politics. In that book the major premise is that we are drawn to a particular political persuasion by how we were reared.

In a very condensed form it goes something like this: We are raised by parents with varying degrees of sensitivities to our biological needs and signals. The secure child is taught to respond to their tensions and is calmed by the parent. For the two types of insecurity there is an avoidant style of managing stress and an enmeshing parent. The former promotes internalization of worries by missing the signals, or is absent. The latter is the type to smother the child so they learn to do little by themselves: The creation of an insecure conservative and an insecure liberal. The secure child-adult doesn't need the fame or the power of politics, so they are not attracted to the fray.

Interesting, isn't it? If true, it leads to a world of questions. Does this mean how we vote is a reflection of our mother's care for us the first year of our lives? How does that translate to other conservative or liberal topics? Maybe we shouldn't bother to vote but just be tested with a sudden noise and a threatening image.

---

Joseph Cramer, M.D., is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, practicing pediatrician for more than 25 years and an adjunct professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah. He can be reached at jgcramermd@yahoo.com.