Are Filipinos simply “bad voters”—or are our brains and choices shaped by poverty, stress, and survival? In this episode of The Forensic Lens Podcast, I explore how neuroanthropology helps explain why clientelism and vote-buying persist, linking scarcity, cognitive load, malnutrition, and education deficits to short-term decision-making.
The problem isn’t just political—it’s biological and cultural. To break the cycle, we must invest in nutrition, early childhood programs, and cognitive capital so that voters can engage critically and rationally with democracy.
📖 Read the full article on Agham Road.
🌐 Learn more about my work here.
9 mins