Parasite Prevalence Predicts Authoritarianism

[pimpnamedraypeat]

Peat's had a lot to say about authoritarianism I wonder what he'll think of this:


Pathogens and Politics: Further Evidence That Parasite Prevalence Predicts Authoritarianism

According to a "parasite stress" hypothesis, authoritarian governments are more likely to emerge in regions characterized by a high prevalence of disease-causing pathogens. Recent cross-national evidence is consistent with this hypothesis, but there are inferential limitations associated with that evidence. We report two studies that address some of these limitations, and provide further tests of the hypothesis. Study 1 revealed that parasite prevalence strongly predicted cross-national differences on measures assessing individuals' authoritarian personalities, and this effect statistically mediated the relationship between parasite prevalence and authoritarian governance. The mediation result is inconsistent with an alternative explanation for previous findings. To address further limitations associated with cross-national comparisons, Study 2 tested the parasite stress hypothesis on a sample of traditional small-scale societies (the Standard Cross-Cultural Sample). Results revealed that parasite prevalence predicted measures of authoritarian governance, and did so even when statistically controlling for other threats to human welfare. (One additional threat—famine—also uniquely predicted authoritarianism.) Together, these results further substantiate the parasite stress hypothesis of authoritarianism, and suggest that societal differences in authoritarian governance result, in part, from cultural differences in individuals' authoritarian personalities.

Parasite = ***holes. How interesting.

In addition to their intolerance of nonconformity, authoritarian political systems are also characterized by nepotism and ethnocentrism [20]. These behavioral tendencies too have been empirically linked to the threat of disease. At a psychological level of analysis, individuals who are—or who merely perceive themselves to be—more vulnerable to infection tend to endorse more xenophobic and ethnocentric attitudes [21], [22], [23]. At a societal level of analysis, countries characterized by higher prevalence of parasitic diseases are also characterized by stronger family ties, increased frequency of intrastate ethnic conflict, and several indicators of increased ethnocentrism [24], [25], [26], although the interpretation of some these results remains a matter of some disagreement [27], [28].

According to experts on the matter, it would take about 3 days of no food to turn cities into war zones

Thornhill and colleagues [7] empirically tested this parasite stress hypothesis, using modern geopolitical entities (e.g., countries) as units of analysis. The hypothesis was tested on four different measures of democratization and/or authoritarianism, using a parasite stress measure derived from a modern epidemiological database. Consistent evidence was observed across all measures: Higher levels of parasite stress were associated with less democratic, more highly authoritarian political systems (N’s >192, absolute r’s >.45, p’s<.001). These relationships remained statistically significant when statistically controlling for measures of economic development and economic inequality (as assessed by a country’s GDP per capita and GINI coefficient respectively). Additional analyses revealed that country-level differences in authoritarian governance were even more strongly predicted by a measure of historical (rather than modern-day) parasite prevalence [29]—a finding consistent with the hypothesis that authoritarian governance is a consequence (rather than a cause) of parasite stress.

I wonder if vaccinations and fluoridation and GMOs, all of which lower the immune system, are used to keep keep the populations parasite load and threat of illness high so they support whatever bull**** their authoritarian government throws their way. If you're healthy and vibrant and full of energy it's much harder to brainwash you. You're probably outside doing something with yourself instead of passively consuming media.

 

[x-ray peat]

Interesting, however it is unclear which way the causal relationship goes, if it exists at all. For example an authoritarian government is much more likely to treat their citizens worse than a democracy would because of their greater ability to use state violence to impose their will. They would have a much easier time letting their citizens live in conditions that let parasites thrive without having to worry about mass demonstrations.

You are right though that less authoritarian govts use other not so obvious means such as fluoride and GMOS to keep us unhealthy and complacent.

 

[DaveFoster]

@pimpnamedraypeat

I sent this study to Dr. Peat a while ago. He didn't comment.

 

[pimpnamedraypeat]

@pimpnamedraypeat

I sent this study to Dr. Peat a while ago. He didn't comment.

He switched to pigeon mail. less pufa

 

[DaveFoster]

He switched to pigeon mail. less pufa

True, gotta watch out for those CIA pigeons though.

 

[Hugh Johnson]

Interesting, however it is unclear which way the causal relationship goes, if it exists at all. For example an authoritarian government is much more likely to treat their citizens worse than a democracy would because of their greater ability to use state violence to impose their will. They would have a much easier time letting their citizens live in conditions that let parasites thrive without having to worry about mass demonstrations.

You are right though that less authoritarian govts use other not so obvious means such as fluoride and GMOS to keep us unhealthy and complacent.

It's not unclear. You can activate the disgust circuits and people become more authoritarian. Read some literature.

Also, authoritarianism is a perfectly sensible adaptation to infectious diseases. The human animal dislikes conflict, and in circumstances where diseases dominate, being vary of strangers and non-standard sexuality is often the line between life and death. Look at what happened to the New World natives after Europeans arrived. All out genocide and slavery for the few survivors.

Tbf, an authoritarian government in today's cicumstance does cause underdevelopment and poverty so it is a vicious circle.

 

[LUH 3417]

I wonder if indigenous people animated parasites and created elaborate rituals for their elimination

 

[x-ray peat]

It's not unclear. You can activate the disgust circuits and people become more authoritarian. Read some literature.

No need to be so snarky. When you have two correlated factors it is often unclear what is the cause and what is the effect. Here it is far more likely that it is Authoritarian government that causes a greater prevalence of parasites due to the mistreatment of their people rather than the reverse. The Kim family didnt come into power into North Korea because the people in the North had more parasites than in the South. It was his family's misrule that starved the people and created the environment for mass parasites.

 

[pimpnamedraypeat]

I wonder if indigenous people animated parasites and created elaborate rituals for their elimination

Hmmm..

I dont know about indigenous but heres jesus casting out 'satan'
-------------------------------------------------

And Jesus answered him: "Satan torments you thus greatly because you have already fasted many days, and you do not pay to him his tribute. You do not feed him with all the abominations with which you hitherto defiled the temple of your spirit. You torment Satan with hunger, and so in his anger he torments you also. Fear not, for I tell you, Satan will be destroyed before your body is destroyed; for while you fast and pray, the angels of God protect your body, that Satan's power may not destroy you. And the anger of Satan is impotent against the angels of God."

Then they all came to Jesus and with loud cries besought him saying: "Master, have compassion on him, for he suffers more than we all, and if you do not at once cast Satan out of him, we fear he will not live until tomorrow."

And Jesus answered them: "Great is your faith. Be it according to your faith, and you shall see soon, face to face, the frightful countenance of Satan, and the power of the Son of Man. For I will cast out from you the powerful Satan by the strength of the innocent lamb of God, the weakest creature of the Lord. For the holy spirit of God makes more powerful the weakest than the strongest."

And Jesus milked an ewe which was feeding among the grass. And he put the milk upon the sand made hot by the sun, saying: "Lo, the power of the angel of water has entered this milk. And now the power of the angel of sunshine will enter it also."

And the milk became hot by the strength of the sun.

"And now the angels of water and of sun will join with the angel of air."

And lo, the vapor of the hot milk began to rise slowly into the air.

."Come and breathe in by your mouth the strength of the angels of water, of sunshine, and of air, that it may come into your body and cast out the Satan from you."

And the sick man whom Satan tormented did breathe within himself, deeply, the rising whitish vapor.

"Straightway will Satan leave your body, since for three days he starves and finds no food within you. He will come out of you to satisfy his hunger by the hot steaming milk, for this food finds favor in his sight. He will smell its smell, and will not be able to resist the hunger which has tormented him three days already. But the Son of Man will destroy his body, that he may torment none else again."

Then the sick man's body was seized with an ague, and he retched as though he would vomit, but he could not. And he gasped for air, for his breath was spent. And he fainted on the lap of Jesus.

"Now does Satan leave his body. See him." And Jesus pointed to the sick man's opened mouth.

And then they all saw with astonishment and terror that Satan was coming out from his mouth in the shape of an abominable worm, straight towards the steaming milk. Then Jesus took two sharp stones in his hands and crushed the head of Satan, and drew out from the sick man all the body of the monster which was almost as long as the man. When the abominable worm came out of the sick man's throat, he recovered at once his breath, and then all his pains ceased. And the others looked with terror at the abominable body of Satan.

"See, what an abominable beast you carried and nourished in your body for long years. I have cast it out of you and killed it that it may never again torment you. Give thanks to God that his angels have made you free, and sin no more, lest Satan return to you again. Let your body be henceforth a temple dedicated to your God."

------------------------------------------------

Really makes you think

 

[pimpnamedraypeat]

No need to be so snarky. When you have two correlated factors it is often unclear what is the cause and what is the effect. Here it is far more likely that it is Authoritarian government that causes a greater prevalence of parasites due to the mistreatment of their people rather than the reverse. The Kim family didnt come into power into North Korea because the people in the North had more parasites than in the South. It was his family's misrule that starved the people and created the environment for mass parasites.

It's quite the opposite actually. Parasite load = totalitarianism

 

[LUH 3417]

Hmmm..

I dont know about indigenous but heres jesus casting out 'satan'
-------------------------------------------------

And Jesus answered him: "Satan torments you thus greatly because you have already fasted many days, and you do not pay to him his tribute. You do not feed him with all the abominations with which you hitherto defiled the temple of your spirit. You torment Satan with hunger, and so in his anger he torments you also. Fear not, for I tell you, Satan will be destroyed before your body is destroyed; for while you fast and pray, the angels of God protect your body, that Satan's power may not destroy you. And the anger of Satan is impotent against the angels of God."

Then they all came to Jesus and with loud cries besought him saying: "Master, have compassion on him, for he suffers more than we all, and if you do not at once cast Satan out of him, we fear he will not live until tomorrow."

And Jesus answered them: "Great is your faith. Be it according to your faith, and you shall see soon, face to face, the frightful countenance of Satan, and the power of the Son of Man. For I will cast out from you the powerful Satan by the strength of the innocent lamb of God, the weakest creature of the Lord. For the holy spirit of God makes more powerful the weakest than the strongest."

And Jesus milked an ewe which was feeding among the grass. And he put the milk upon the sand made hot by the sun, saying: "Lo, the power of the angel of water has entered this milk. And now the power of the angel of sunshine will enter it also."

And the milk became hot by the strength of the sun.

"And now the angels of water and of sun will join with the angel of air."

And lo, the vapor of the hot milk began to rise slowly into the air.

."Come and breathe in by your mouth the strength of the angels of water, of sunshine, and of air, that it may come into your body and cast out the Satan from you."

And the sick man whom Satan tormented did breathe within himself, deeply, the rising whitish vapor.

"Straightway will Satan leave your body, since for three days he starves and finds no food within you. He will come out of you to satisfy his hunger by the hot steaming milk, for this food finds favor in his sight. He will smell its smell, and will not be able to resist the hunger which has tormented him three days already. But the Son of Man will destroy his body, that he may torment none else again."

Then the sick man's body was seized with an ague, and he retched as though he would vomit, but he could not. And he gasped for air, for his breath was spent. And he fainted on the lap of Jesus.

"Now does Satan leave his body. See him." And Jesus pointed to the sick man's opened mouth.

And then they all saw with astonishment and terror that Satan was coming out from his mouth in the shape of an abominable worm, straight towards the steaming milk. Then Jesus took two sharp stones in his hands and crushed the head of Satan, and drew out from the sick man all the body of the monster which was almost as long as the man. When the abominable worm came out of the sick man's throat, he recovered at once his breath, and then all his pains ceased. And the others looked with terror at the abominable body of Satan.

"See, what an abominable beast you carried and nourished in your body for long years. I have cast it out of you and killed it that it may never again torment you. Give thanks to God that his angels have made you free, and sin no more, lest Satan return to you again. Let your body be henceforth a temple dedicated to your God."

------------------------------------------------

Really makes you think

Wonder if Jesus carried a zapper like Hulda Clark

 

[pimpnamedraypeat]

Wonder if Jesus carried a zapper like Hulda Clark

Where do you think she got the idea?

 

[x-ray peat]

It's quite the opposite actually. Parasite load = totalitarianism

about as valid as your quote from the Essene Gospel hoax. Edmund Bordeaux Szekely - Wikipedia
http://www.compassionatespirit.com/wpblog/2014/02/18/pious-fraud-vegetarian-style/

 

[Sucrates]

I wonder what the sources are and how they defined "authoritarianism".
"Two measures were obtained from www.freedomhouse.org"
Who?
"ABOUT FREEDOM HOUSE
Freedom House is an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom and democracy around the world."
Freedom and democracy? At the same time?
"We advocate for U.S. leadership and collaboration with like-minded governments to vigorously oppose dictators and oppression."

"The organization was 66% funded by grants from the U.S. government in 2006, a number which has increased to 86% in 2016."

Seemingly the absence of democracy is authoritarianism?

4 references for "right-wing authoritarianism". "Left--wing authoritarianism" not found. Seems legit!

 

[pimpnamedraypeat]

about as valid as your quote from the Essene Gospel hoax. Edmund Bordeaux Szekely - Wikipedia
Pious Fraud, Vegetarian Style | Compassionate Spirit

Anyone can edit wikipedia.

I wonder what the sources are and how they defined "authoritarianism".
"Two measures were obtained from www.freedomhouse.org"
Who?
"ABOUT FREEDOM HOUSE
Freedom House is an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom and democracy around the world."
Freedom and democracy? At the same time?
"We advocate for U.S. leadership and collaboration with like-minded governments to vigorously oppose dictators and oppression."

"The organization was 66% funded by grants from the U.S. government in 2006, a number which has increased to 86% in 2016."

Seemingly the absence of democracy is authoritarianism?

4 references for "right-wing authoritarianism". "Left--wing authoritarianism" not found. Seems legit!

Right wing authoritarianism is what most people think of when they think of authoritarianism. Not everyone is as redpilled as you.

Nice attempt at ad homenim. If you have a problem with the method or results I'd like to hear it.

 

[Travis]

This is interesting. There is that well‐known relationship between toxoplasmosis and rage:

Coccaro, Emil F. "Toxoplasma gondii infection: relationship with aggression in psychiatric subjects." The Journal of clinical psychiatry (2016)​

But even more interesting is this, which provides a solid chemical mechanism for these observations. This study demonstrates the relationship between Toxoplasma gondii infection and kyneurenine pathway metabolites.

Fujigaki, Suwako. "L-tryptophan-L-kynurenine pathway metabolism accelerated by Toxoplasma gondii infection is abolished in gamma interferon-gene-deficient mice: cross-regulation between inducible nitric oxide synthase and indoleamine-2, 3-dioxygenase." Infection and immunity (2002)​

Apparently during infection, interferon‐γ actually either induces transcription of the enzyme indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase directly or through prostaglandin E₂. It's has been proven multiple times that interferon‐γ induces transcription of phospholipase A₂, the first step in prostaglandin synthesis. The author of this article didn't give his opinion as to how this happens, but it happens nonetheless. This enzyme was increased nearly two‐hundred‐fold in the brain as a result of Toxoplasma gondii infection:

'Brain IDO activity was also increased (198-fold) on day 14 (from 25.5 ± 5.1 to 5,049 ± 1,936 pmol/ h/mg of protein) and was maintained at that level until day 28.' ―Fujigaki​

The body ostensibly does this as a device to lower tryptophan, starving the parasite in this manner.

click to embiggen: Western blot before, and seven days after, Toxoplasma gondii infection.

This high enzymatic activity would naturally result in greatly‐increased brain levels of N‐formylkynurenine and everything downstream: kyneuric acid, 3‐hydroxykynurenine, 3‐hydroxyanthranilic acid, picolinic acid, quinolic acid, and nicotic acid.

'However, local accumulation of kynurenine metabolites, in particular, quinolinic acid, following IDO induction may also represent a potentially detrimental event. In fact, quinolinic acid is a potent excitotoxin, and its overproduction has been linked to neuronal damage occurring in brain inflammation, initiation of lipid peroxidation, and other conditions. Indeed, quinolinic acid concentration was significantly increased by T. gondii infection. Therefore, it is possible that increased levels of quinolinic acid and other kynurenine pathway metabolites play a detrimental role following T. gondii infection.' ―Fujigaki​

The only metabolite he'd measured was kyneurenine; he'd also measured the tryptophan concentrations:

click to embiggen: Brain kyneurenine concentrations before, and after, Toxoplasma gondii infection.

It does seem largely mediated by interferon‐γ: You wouldn't know by looking at the tryptophan concentrations alone, but the kyneurenine concentrations are more specific for the enzyme. Tryptophan concentrations depend on so many more things than then the enzyme indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase.

click to embiggen: Western blots taken throughout Toxoplasma gondii infection.

This effect is not limited only to Toxoplasma gondii infection, and can be observed with infections of all types. Besides those listed by Fujigaki, schistosomes—a parasititic flatworm—are well‐known to increase interferon‐γ.

'Furthermore, the antimicrobial effects induced by IDO‐dependent mechanisms were also demonstrated for both Chlamydia psittaci and group B streptococcal infections.' ―Fujigaki

'Indeed, previous observations indicated that IDO immunoreactivity is markedly increased in the spinal cord of macaques with poliovirus infection,' ―Fujigaki​

This would also of course act to lower brain serotonin, although he hadn't measured this. But since this appears to be mediated by interferon‐γ, you would expect certain food allergies to also cause similar changes (but perhaps only in certain areas). Ingestion of wheat among celiacs causes a a spike in interferon‐γ. Any interferon‐γ, anywhere, would naturally result in increased prostaglandin synthesis as well as the aforementioned effects on indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase.

'Indeed, especially in human fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and glioblastoma cells, IDO induction by IFN‐γ results in L-TRP depletion and inhibition of parasite growth.' ―Fujigaki

'Several studies suggest that IDO induction by IFN‐γ exerts antimicrobial and antiproliferative effects, possibly by depletion of L-TRP.' ―Fujigaki
​

People in certain geographic areas are more prone to parasitic infection, so these areas would have a higher prevalence of citizens having the behavioral effects—assuming they exist—resulting from greatly elevated interferon‐γ and brain quinolic acid.

 

[pimpnamedraypeat]

Wouldn't the lowered serotonin lower aggressiveness? Perhaps I have a simplistic understanding of Ray peat. So this quinolinic acid is the culprit. I googled it and it seems to have a large effect in the brain. It's excitotoxic, causes neuronal lesions, etc etc.

I read that in increases with age, infant rats having none and half of the adult rats having a level that approaches toxicity. i wonder if tht's why young animals are more intelligent and learn more, but become primitive and revert back to instinct as they mature. Is there any way to combat it? Perhaps slowing down it's creation.

 

[DaveFoster]

It's not unclear. You can activate the disgust circuits and people become more authoritarian. Read some literature.

Also, authoritarianism is a perfectly sensible adaptation to infectious diseases. The human animal dislikes conflict, and in circumstances where diseases dominate, being vary of strangers and non-standard sexuality is often the line between life and death. Look at what happened to the New World natives after Europeans arrived. All out genocide and slavery for the few survivors.

Tbf, an authoritarian government in today's cicumstance does cause underdevelopment and poverty so it is a vicious circle.

Native American slave ownership - Wikipedia

 

[Travis]

Wouldn't the lowered serotonin lower aggressiveness? Perhaps I have a simplistic understanding of Ray peat. So this quinolinic acid is the culprit. I googled it and it seems to have a large effect in the brain. It's excitotoxic, causes neuronal lesions, etc etc.

I read that in increases with age, infant rats having none and half of the adult rats having a level that approaches toxicity. i wonder if tht's why young animals are more intelligent and learn more, but become primitive and revert back to instinct as they mature. Is there any way to combat it? Perhaps slowing down it's creation.

You would expect slightly lowered serotonin from this, but perhaps interferon‐γ also downregulates arylalkalamine acetyltransferase, responsible for eliminating serotonin. If interferon‐γ can increase indoleamine dioxygenase and phospholipase A₂ to such an extent, who knows what it can't do?

Apparently, another interferon can increase serotonin by acting in the same way: by limiting tryptophan availability to the invading pathogen. Interferon‐7 causes increased cell uptake of tryptophan and increased serotonin synthesis:

click to embiggen

During infection the T cells could produce multiple interferons, among them interferon‐γ and interferon‐7. Activation of T cells (type 1) could lower tryptophan by sending it through two separate pathways: the kyneurenine pathway and the serotonin pathway; one measured by Fujigaki (above) and one measured by Finochiarro (below):

Finochiarro, Liliana. "Serotonin and Melatonin Synthesis in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: Stimulation by Interferon-7 as Part of an Immunomodulatory Pathway." Journal of interferon research (1988)​

So there could actually be an increased brain serotonin in addition to increased quinolinic acid (confirmed)—both the result of restricting the amino acid tryptophan during infection.

 

[Koveras]

Wouldn't the lowered serotonin lower aggressiveness? Perhaps I have a simplistic understanding of Ray peat. So this quinolinic acid is the culprit. I googled it and it seems to have a large effect in the brain. It's excitotoxic, causes neuronal lesions, etc etc.

I read that in increases with age, infant rats having none and half of the adult rats having a level that approaches toxicity. i wonder if tht's why young animals are more intelligent and learn more, but become primitive and revert back to instinct as they mature. Is there any way to combat it? Perhaps slowing down it's creation.

You would expect slightly lowered serotonin from this, but perhaps interferon‐γ also downregulates arylalkalamine acetyltransferase, responsible for eliminating serotonin. If interferon‐γ can increase indoleamine dioxygenase and phospholipase A₂ to such an extent, who knows what it can't do?

Apparently, another interferon can increase serotonin by acting in the same way: by limiting tryptophan availability to the invading pathogen. Interferon‐7 causes increased cell uptake of tryptophan and increased serotonin synthesis:

View attachment 7529 click to embiggen

During infection the T cells could produce multiple interferons, among them interferon‐γ and interferon‐7. Activation of T cells (type 1) could lower tryptophan by sending it through two separate pathways: the kyneurenine pathway and the serotonin pathway; one measured by Fujigaki (above) and one measured by Finochiarro (below):

Finochiarro, Liliana. "Serotonin and Melatonin Synthesis in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: Stimulation by Interferon-7 as Part of an Immunomodulatory Pathway." Journal of interferon research (1988)​

So there could actually be an increased brain serotonin in addition to increased quinolinic acid (confirmed)—both the result of restricting the amino acid tryptophan during infection.

The role of serotonergic pathways in isolation-induced aggression in mice. - PubMed - NCBI

Male mice that became aggressive following four weeks of social isolation were treated with seven known serotonin receptor antagonists. All of the antiserotonergic drugs selectively antagonized the fighting behavior of the isolated mice; the antiaggressive activity was selective since, at antifighting doses, none of the drugs either significantly altered spontaneous motor activity or impaired inclined-screen performance. Antagonism of 5-HTP-induced head-twitch was used as an in vivo measure of antiserotonergic activity and a statistically significant correlation existed between potency as an antiserotonergic and potency as an antiaggressive. PCPA, a serotonin depletor, also significantly antagonized isolation-induced aggression for at least 24 hr postdrug administration. The interrelationship between cholinergic and serotonergic mechanisms in the mediation of isolation aggression was investigated. The involvement of serotonergic systems in isolation-induced aggression is discussed.