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The Vox Box

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Were you born with your political leanings?


AP Photo of major party presidential nominees John McCain and Barack Obama

According to political science researchers at Rice University in Texas, you very well might have been. Or at least in part.

In a recent study, these researchers took 46 very politically opinionated adults and tested their physiological reactions to threatening and non-threatening images.

Those who had traditional conservative views reacted with strong physical reactions to the alarming images and very calmly to the nonthreatening images such as bunny rabbits and children.

However, those who had liberal views reacted with very little difference between the scary and peaceful images.

According to study author James Alford, a professor at Rice University, this study shows that there might be some connection between genetics and political views.

“We estimate your biological makeup has a 30 to 40 percent role in how you will vote," Alfred said. "The other portion is how and where you were raised as well as environmental factors.”

Check out the full story at cnn.com here.

Do you believe that genetics play a role in the way you might vote or the politicans you support?


In 2006, then-editor Steve Smith of The Spokesman-Review had the idea of starting a publication for an often forgotten audience: teenagers. The Vox Box was a continuation of the Vox, an all-student staffed newspaper published by The Spokesman-Review. High school student journalists who staffed the Vox made all content decisions as they learn about the trade of journalism. This blog's mission was to give students an opportunity to publish their voices. The Vox Box and the Vox wrapped up in June 2009, but you can follow former staffers' new blog at http://voxxiez.blogspot.com.