Posted on 08/04/2006 3:52:12 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
A common parasite found in cats may be affecting human behavior on a mass scale, according to a scientist based at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
While little is known about the causes of cultural change, and biological explanations often stimulate social and scientific debate, a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey published in the August 2 issue of the Proceedings of the Royal Society, Biology, indicates that behavioral manipulation of a common brain parasite may be among factors that play a role.
"In populations where this parasite is very common, mass personality modification could result in cultural change," said study author Kevin Lafferty, a USGS scientist at UC Santa Barbara. "The geographic variation in the latent prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii may explain a substantial proportion of human population differences we see in cultural aspects that relate to ego, money, material possessions, work and rules."
Although this sounds like science fiction, it is a logical outcome of how natural selection leads to effective strategies for parasites to get from host to host, said Lafferty. Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite of cats, both domestic and wild. While modern humans are a dead-end host for the parasite, Toxoplasma appears to manipulate personality by the same adaptations that normally help it complete its life cycle. The typical journey of the parasite involves a cat and its prey, starting as eggs shed in an infected cat's feces, inadvertently eaten by a warm-blooded animal, such as a rat. The infected rat's behavior alters so that it becomes more active, less cautious and more likely to be eaten by a cat, where the parasite completes its life cycle. Many other warm-blooded vertebrates may be infected by this pathogen. After producing usually mild flu-like symptoms in humans, the parasite tends to remain in a dormant state in the brain and other tissues.
Evidence for subtle long-term effects on an individual's personality, reported by researchers in the Czech Republic, inspired Lafferty to explore whether a shift in the average, or aggregate, personality of a population might occur where Toxoplasma has infected a higher proportion of individuals. Infection with Toxoplasma varies considerably from one population to another; in some countries it is very rare, while in others nearly all adults are infected. To test his hypothesis, Lafferty used published data on cultural dimension and aggregate personality for countries where there were also published data on the prevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies in women of childbearing age. Pregnant women are tested for antibodies because of the serious risk posed by toxoplasmosis to fetuses, which lack their own immune systems.
The results of previous work suggested that Toxoplasma could affect specific elements of human culture. Toxoplasma is associated with different, often opposite, behavioral changes in men and women, but both genders exhibit guilt proneness (a form of neuroticism). Lafferty's analysis found that countries with high Toxoplasma prevalence had a higher aggregate neuroticism score, and western nations with high prevalence also scored higher in the 'neurotic' cultural dimensions of 'masculine' sex roles and uncertainty avoidance.
"There could be a lot more to this story. Different responses to the parasite by men and women could lead to many additional cultural effects that are, as yet, difficult to analyze," said Lafferty.
Lafferty suggested that because climate affects the persistence of infectious states of Toxoplasma in the environment, it helps drive the geographic variation in the parasite's prevalence by increasing exposure risk. The parasite's eggs can live longer in humid, low-altitude regions, especially at mid latitudes that have infrequent freezing and thawing. Cultural practices of food preparation such as rare or undercooked meats, or poor hygiene, can increase exposure to infection, as can having cats as pets. Lafferty added, "Toxoplasmosis is one of many factors that may influence personality and culture, which may also include the effects of other infectious diseases, genetics, environment and history. Efforts to control this infectious pathogen could bring about cultural changes."
"This is not to say that the cultural dimensions associated with T. gondii are necessarily undesirable," noted Lafferty. "After all, they add to our cultural diversity."
From what I recall reading at one time, there is a higher onership of cats among US liberals and French citizens.
"In populations where this parasite is very common, mass personality modification could result in cultural change,"
Translation: it causes people to become democrats and join the DUmmies..:-)
The subtle, yet tactical difference in this conservative household--the cats own me.
We've three cats and a dog. Both of us conservative, too.
I knew there was a good reason why I hate cats...
More pseudo science . . .
In short, the studies have tended to say that it shifts women's personalities to becoming more warm and friendly while it tends to make men more jealous.
Stay away from such men!
Actually, there may be some truth to the idea of this parasite affecting your politics.
For example, what you think of as hardcore socialists, who are irresistably drawn to collectivism in something like a herd instinct. They abhor individualism, success or failure, and pursue mediocrity for all in all endeavors. They demand "equality" in all things.
People who are extremists and fanatical idealists, whose vision of the world is a dichotomy of "black and white", or "good and evil", or "us and them". Who adamantly reject the notion that there are large grey areas to much of human activity. It is noteworthy that such people might change their core belief, but only to something equally extreme.
Or finally, people who are neurotic about any form of violence. They can even become physically ill when exposed to violent and competitive situations of any kind. They are dominated by the "flight" response, but try to use the law to prohibit others from being violent or competing.
Appreciate the link ... but don't take it too seriously ... it's pseudo science.
Well, it does get into the human brain where it will always stay alive, but is kept inactive by our immune system. It also resides in our muscles, where it is less of a concern.
You should read the studies on what it does do to rats. It does provably alter their behavior. It's not too much of a stretch to imagine it could do something to us.
It does ravage our bodies once our immune system is down. People with AIDS have real problems.
Where do we find such infected cats? We need as many as we can get to put in the population centers most populated by the DemonRATS of the Left. [couldn't resist]
Wow, there is a stray cat running around where I work that has markings very similar to Sinaloan. Two of our cats were born feral. One is mostly blind, but no pushover and the female has claws that will draw blood before you realize it.
Hah, my fiance is a cat person and I talked her into a dog. She loves our dog to death.
I just want to reiterate, since someone will inevitably start wondering if they should get rid of their cats, that toxoplasmosis is actually pretty rare in the US. For instance, we have seven housecats right now, and I have also been around multiple cats ALL my life, and I recently tested negative for toxoplasmosis.
The liberal thing doesn't compute, either ... Both my vet and my doc told me that toxoplasmosis is quite rare in California. :)
Also someone else posted about liberals having cats. I thought the same thing when reading the article. The only people I know who are rabid cat lovers are also rabid liberals. One, who is also a relative, still has a portrait of Klinton on her wall. And yes I know there are conservatives who love their cats. I have no use for cats at all. Nasty creatures.
The theory's obviously incomplete in some way or other. This parasite, if it does these things at all, clearly makes people less adventuresome, i.e., makes them into wusses -- not more adventuresome. How else do you explain all the liberals running around who are so afraid of their own shadows that they try to appease the hungry snake with olive branches? The snake hasn't been born that eats olive branches.
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