Biophysiological and Social Predictors of Political Violence, Research Area 8.5 Social and Behavioral Science
Abstract
This highly innovative proposal links genetics and human social environments to aggressive tendencies in social interaction. The PI links political science theory on collective violence to genetic research on aggressive tendencies at the individual level in humans, placing special emphasis on triggers from the social environment to genetic predispositions. The project will be the first of its kind to systematically investigate gene x environment interactions in human social groups. Understanding gene x environment interactions has been extremely difficult in human groups due to both variation and challenges isolating and controlling groups. The PI will test a theory that individuals with low MAO-A (i.e., low activity variation of MAO-A promoter polymorphism) and short 5-HTT serotonin transporter are associated with higher levels of violence and aggression. The PI theorizes that this tendency toward aggression is triggered by experiences of injustice resulting from social environments (e.g., deprivation of deserved rewards, persecution). The PI proposes a robust and creative two-pronged strategy to assess this theory. First, the research team will that examine the prevalence of these genetic traits in an ethnically (and genetically) social group, Spanish Basques. More specificall, the PI will obtain DNA samples from and interview members of Basque Euskadi Ta Akatasuna ("Basque Homeland & Liberty") . Basque Euskadi Ta Akatasuna (ETA) is a Basque separatist organization in Spain that is well-known for engaging in violent attacks in Spain. In response to efforts by the UN to broker peace, ETA agreed to cease violent activities in 2011 and pursue peaceful avenues toward civil rights and independence. The PI will also obtain DNA samples and interview a matched sample of Basque people who did not join ETA. Also, the PI will obtain DNA samples and interview matched samples of individuals from Spain and the U.S. who are not Basques (and did not join ETA). The hypotheses are (1) that the Basque population will have higher incidents of low MAO-A polymorphisms and short 5-HTT sertonin transporter than non-Basque Spanish and U.S. subjects; and (2) that ETA subjects will have higher incidents of low MAO-A polymorphisms and short 5-HTT sertonin transporter than non-ETA Basque subjects. The interviews will include important questions regarding environmental stimuli that may have triggered engagement in violence and aggression (e.g., experiences of injustice). The PI hypothesizes that subjects who report experiences of injustice will be more likely to report aggressive/violent acts and that these experiences will be more prevalent among ETA Basques than the other samples. Second, to establish the role of social environment in triggering expressions of the polymorphism, the project will include experiments comparing ETA subjects, non-ETA Basque subjects, and U.S. subjects with regard to aggressive tendencies following exposure to injustice. The PI will also take DNA samples from the subjects participating in these experiments. The PI hypothesizes that those with the polymorphism will exhibit greater tendencies toward aggression and that these tendencies will be greater among those experiencing injustice in the experiment. The PI has unique access to an ethnically distinct group, Spanish Basques, including those Basques who joined an organization with very violent tendencies, ETA (Basque Euskadi Ta Akatasuna, which translates to "Basque Homeland & Liberty"). Up until 2011, when ETA agreed to renounce violent tactics upon UN intervention to broker civil rights for the group and encourage a peace process, ETA engaged in very violent attacks against the Spanish government, beginning in 1894. Basques are not only ethnically distinct but also have a distinct genetic profile. Moreover, there is already some evidence that they may have a higher incidents of low activity MAO-A gene, which some researchers believe is associated w
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1610016
Entities
People
- William Reed
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Maryland