A theory of social stratification is proposed that was derived from combining two conceptual continuums, both referring to phenomena that appear to be genetically influenced: pro/antisociality and r/K selection. Pro/antisociality refers to behavioral tendencies epitomized at one end by altruism, and, at the other end, by victimizing behavior (particular violent offenses). r/K selection refers to a variety of physiological and behavioral traits, epitomized at the r-end by organisms that reproduce in large numbers, while committing minimal time and energy to the nurturing of each offspring, and at the K-end by organisms that reproduce in small numbers, but make maximum commitments to nurturing each offspring. The theory postulates that the space created by the right-angle intersection of these two variables gives rise to human social stratification. Variations in educational achievement, earnings, and occupational prestige within the theoretical space created by these two variables in industrial societies are hypothesized and discussed.

Health status has been held to affect people's political orientations and behavior. Using the 1987 National Opinion Research Center General Social Survey, this paper tests for the existence of that relationship. Results suggest that healthier people are more likely to be conservative and status quo oriented, somewhat more politicized, less alienated, and more active in politics. Results, although modest, support the thesis that health status has an effect on political orientations and behavior.

Efforts to link mental illness to biochemical events in the brain have recently been receiving greater attention by mental health professionals. Research linking political behaviors to chemical-neurological statuses could potentially revolutionize political science. In earlier writings, Douglas Madsen argued that power-seeking has been discovered to have a biological marker, and that this discovery portends “a major new direction in the behavioral study of power.” Madsen's research is seriously flawed by conceptual imprecision, inadequate operationalization, faulty premises and inferences, and misrepresentations of the earlier work of power theorists and Type A theorists who provide the central underpinnings on which his research is based. Until corrected, these flaws make meaningful testing of “power-seeking” and biochemical correlates impossible.