A World-Wide Red Wave: COVID And The Parasitic Stress Theory Of Values
Let's talk about the political implications of COVID response and world-wide pathogen avoidance.
A world-wide red wave is forming on the horizon.
The ripples began in Wuhan, China.
And have spread around the world.
The waters are getting choppy. The tides are rising.
A red wave is coming.
What do our values, personality, and political orientation all have in common?
Answer: none of them are chosen by us.
That’s right. We don’t choose our values. We don’t choose our personality. We don’t choose our political orientation.
The idea that these are something we choose is an illusion.
Sure, genetics and nurturing play some sort of role in the construction of these elements.
But there are other variables - more powerful ones - that are going to shape your personality, values, and in turn, political orientation?
Welcome, to the Parasitic Stress Theory of Values.
What is the Parasitic Stress Theory of Values?
The Parasitic Stress Theory of Values is a supposition that proposes a species' values and qualities are shaped by the parasites and diseases it encounters. In other words, our values and personality - and culture - are shaped by our society’s exposure to pathogens and infectious disease.
The culture, values, and qualities of a society that have high levels of pathogen exposure will be different than those of a society with low levels of pathogen exposure.
The theory suggests that people who are more stressed by pathogens and infectious diseases are more likely to have different values, personality, and preferences than those with less stress and exposure. This is because the ability to cope with stress is known to be a major factor in determining values, personality, and preferences.
Pathogen and Infectious Disease Exposure As A Predictor Of Personality
Pathogen and infectious disease exposure is a predictor of personality. In fact, it determines it.
Randy Thornhill, an American entomologist and evolutionary biologist, is responsible for developing this theory.
High levels of pathogen prevalence and infectious disease creates a society that is higher in trait conscientiousness and lower openness.
This Big-5 personality trait combination predicts Conservatism.
A society with high levels of pathogen exposure and infectious disease will favor stronger borders and boundaries that protect their resources, personal liberties, and values of beliefs in order to protect itself.
Of course there will still be some people who do not fit this generality. It’s not an absolute.
Personality As A Predictor Of Political Orientation
We might think that IQ, the ability to reason and apply logic, and pattern recognition are what determines our political orientation. Not true.
Our political orientation is determined by our personality, specifically the Big Five personality model (OCEAN).
The five personality traits that compose this model are as follows:
Openness- refers to a person's willingness to try new things and have new experiences. People who are high in openness to experience are curious, imaginative, and artistic.
Conscientiousness- refers to a person's tendency to be organized, reliable, and goal-oriented.
Extroversion- refers to a person's tendency to be outgoing, sociable, assertive, and emotional expressiveness.
Agreeableness- refers to a person's tendency to be cooperative, compassionate, and warm.
Neuroticism- refers to a person’s emotional instability and tendency to experience negative emotions.
More on OCEAN here.
The Big Five personality model is a predictor of political orientation because it covers a wide range of personality traits that determine our perception of reality and what is appealing. This shapes our political views.
For example, people who are high in trait openness are attracted to new experiences. They prefer novelty. This means they are more likely to support progressive policies and liberalism. Someone low in conscientiousness and high in openness to new experiences will be liberal. This means that they tend to be more flexible and open-minded than conservatives. Liberals also want more porous borders around their country and personal freedom in order to have a free-flow of values and resources.
Those who are low in trait openness reject novelty to some degree. They prefer the status-quo or tradition. Someone low in openness to new experiences and high in conscientiousness will be conservative. This means that they tend to be resistant to change and prefer traditional values. They will have a strong desire for order and organization. Conservatives also want strong borders around their country and personal freedom in order to protect their values and resources.
COVID Policy: Triggering A World-Wide Red Wave
So what are the implications of a pandemic, an epidemic of infectious disease, that ravaged the world for nearly two years?
Whether you think COVID was all it was hyped up to be, it was hyped up. COVID policy was enforced on a global scale.
Vaccines and masks were mandated. Social distancing was normalized.
Our children were taught to fear the virus. We were taught to fear the virus. For two years our lives revolved around the virus.
Avoid pathogen exposure at all costs.
Infected? You’re shunned for two weeks.
Mask up. Get vaccinated. Do your part.
It’s everywhere. Stay off the playground. Wash your groceries.
We saw what happened in Italy and Sweden.
The Italians and Swedes pivoted toward Conservatism.
And this is just the adults at the tail end of the pandemic.
Imagine what we are going to see at the voting booths when our youth - the one’s whose personality was molded during the pandemic - are voting age.
COVID policy and behaviors have constructed a generation of youth who will be high in conscientiousness and low in openness.
COVID has triggered a red wave in Conservatism.
You are going to see red waves during the midterms, and again in 2024.
But there’s a greater wave beyond that - one that originated in America’s COVID response.
Although the children who were conditioned to avoid pathogens and fear COVID the most were raised by Liberals, this type of behavior will produce adults who are more likely to be Conservative because of the makeup of their personality.
The generation brought up during peak COVID avoidance and disgust will rise up as Conservatives in the next 10-20 years.
And which group instilled fear of COVID and pathogen avoidance behavior the most? Liberals.
Liberals have created the next generation of Conservatives.
Red wave incoming.