Beliefs About Poverty

Abstract

Synonyms Causal attributions for poverty; Perceived causes of poverty; Perception of poverty Definition Beliefs about poverty are defined as personal views and perceptions about the causes of poverty. Originated from Feagin (1975), there are three main types of reasons for poverty: individualistic, structuralist, and fatalistic. Individualistic beliefs attribute poverty to the poor people themselves (personal problems) like lack of ability, effort, and morals. Structuralist beliefs locate the causes in the social and economic systems (social problems) like lack of opportunities, discrimination, and exploitation of poor people. Fatalistic beliefs put the causes beyond individual and environmental control (fate) such as luck, sickness, and chance. Description Poverty is defined as the family’s total income being lower than an income threshold, based on expenditures judged necessary for minimal acceptable amounts of food, housing, and other essentials (Feagin, 1975 .....