Preview

Factors of Poverty

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1288 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Factors of Poverty
Factors of Poverty
No one universally accepted definition of poverty exists because it is a complex and multifaceted phenomena. Poverty is borne out of economic factors that include a lack of access to secure employment, insufficient income, and a lack of assets, especially that of real-estate. There are social structural elements and psychological factors that both contribute to, and have a tendency of perpetuating poverty. While both of these contribute to poverty they are very different from one another. Social psychological factors are attitudes and values held by all citizens regardless of economics and are the sum total experiences, which have molded the individual 's mind-set. These experiences may bias an individual in a negative manner in regard to poverty. Social structural elements only improve poverty, meaning aid in eliminating it, by the collective work of society. There are several ideas implicit in the notion of social structure, mainly that of the distribution of power. This concept embodies the idea that human beings form social relationships that are not arbitrary or coincidental, but actually exhibit some regularity, persistence, and purpose. According the distribution of power, social life is not unstructured but is differentiated into groups, positions, and power structures that benefit a select group of players; and may be interdependent or functionally interrelated to another social group of influence. However, there is a hurdle to be overcome in assessing poverty, the fallacy of retrospective determinism, which states that the non-poor believe poverty is inevitable. (Lauer & Lauer, 2006) In other words, a defeatist platform: there is no way to improve, just accept things the way they are and don 't make waves.
Social structural factors of poverty are comprised of government, family, economy, and education. Programs designed to assist the poor such as health care and education had a tendency to be vulnerable to veto,



References: Economic Policy Institute (2005, August). Income Picture. , , . Hogan, M. J. (2001). Family economic puzzles and possibilities. Family and Human Development/Family Economics and Resources management Biennial, , . Lauer, R. H., & Lauer, J. C. (2006). Social problems and the quality of life (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    These sorts of explanations argue that the poor are in some way, the cause of their own poverty. At their most extreme, they suggest that the welfare system in Britain actually makes people dependant on it by providing an attractive alternative to work.…

    • 1812 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In order to debunk the negative stereotype associated with poverty, it is necessary to present relevant information to fully demonstrate the complexity of poverty. First, research will be…

    • 1918 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The poor have individual issues and inadequacy that are responsible for their poverty. At one time, the poor were thought to be naturally substandard, a view that has not by any stretch of the creative energy smeared, yet today the considerably more normal conviction is that they neglect to offer the yearning and spark to lock in and to accomplish accomplishment. , the poor generally have feelings and values that change from those of the non-poor and that destiny them to continue with poverty. For example, they are said to be impulsive and to live for the present instead of what's to come. Structural explanation of poverty Structural Poverty results from issues in society that incite an unfortunate inadequacy of chance and a nonattendance of occupations in which is a reproving the-composition approach.…

    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    There is no universally acceptable definition of poverty, although there are several connotations and definitions in vogue. Poverty implies a condition of life characterised by deprivation some sort or the other, and perceived as undesirable by the person concerned or others. It is a multidimensional concept and phenomenon.…

    • 1507 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Substance Abuse - Heroin

    • 2142 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Lauer, R.H., & Lauer, J.C. (2011). Social problems and the quality of life (12th ed.).…

    • 2142 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Best Essays

    Poverty can be described in many ways, such as the state or condition of having little or no money, goods or means of support. Some measure their standard of living according to number of material items they possess, such as internet access, cable television, and luxury vehicles.…

    • 2518 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    What is poverty is it hunger? Is it not having a roof over your head. Is it not having a job. The actual definition of poverty is the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor; indigence. Poverty is a tough topic to discuss. We can look at it from many different view points.…

    • 347 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    With the thought of poverty, several issues come to mind: money, crime, health and welfare. These are the top four concerns when responding to the issue of poverty in our nation as a whole. Each presents problems and solutions, but addressing them in the face of government is difficult; for every good point or action, there is a negative reaction affecting both pro and con supporters.…

    • 1954 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Firstly, I want to discuss the most common causes of people that live in poverty. “Poverty may be due to a country’s lack of resources, population increase, or unfair distribution of wealth.”…

    • 2051 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    trapped in a “culture of poverty” thus creating a cycle of poverty. The second view on…

    • 1775 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thousands of people worldwide are suffering from poverty. People do not choose to live in poverty, society leave them with no choice. They usually live in isolated areas and have little business nearby. Poverty does influence, power because there are less opportunities and poorer health, which makes life more difficult than someone that is wealthy.…

    • 709 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Poverty has become one of the most important social problems in recent years, and will continue to be just as important in the near future. Social scientists and economists have come up with three different definitions…

    • 1636 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Poverty In The United States

    • 2924 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Throughout the last century, poverty has been a major issue in the society of the United States. The government has tried to help those who are living in poverty through numerous acts including Franklin D. Roosevelt's plans to get the country out of the depression or the welfare reform in 1996. Although the government has sought to ease poverty, mainly by creating government anti poverty programs, their methods are in fact ineffective. The Federal governments anti poverty programs as a majority is not working, the programs may very well work for a few people out of thousands, but that is unquestionably not enough. Furthermore the government's methods to eliminate poverty have caused people to become dependent on government anti poverty…

    • 2924 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    What are the definitions of poverty? Can we learn anything from poverty? Many people hear the words poverty and have different meanings. I think poverty may mean a person who does not have enough money to do the things that they want to do. But, most people can afford to live only the things they truly need.…

    • 494 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Poverty is a complicated issue. It is a phenomenon not limited to the third world. It’s an issue even faced by the wealthiest countries. There are many reasons and causes, and there are equally as many disagreements on where the blame should lay. People who are not poor often blame the less fortunate for their own situation and tend to have little sympathy. Those who are in poverty often blame society for making it impossible to escape from their situation. Poverty also tends to affect groups within society differently. One of the main divides is gender based where women are more likely to find themselves falling within the lower levels and in greater numbers into poverty. Regardless of the causes and who is to blame, this is an issue that…

    • 1079 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays