Psychology of Living below the Poverty Line in the USA - Research Paper Example

POVERTY IN THE USA: Discussing the Causes, Effects, and Psychology of Living below the Poverty Line in the USA POVERTY IN THE USA Poverty is a serious issue that plagues many nations all over the world, including the United States. Poverty is presently on the rise in America. The statistics show that nearly 45.3 million people are living below the poverty line. The issues of poverty in the United States places it at the second highest nation with the largest amount of child poverty, just below Romania, compared to 35 other global nations (Duncan & Magnuson, 2013). Understanding poverty, its causes, its contributors, and the psychological, social, and developmental consequences are essential if there is to be a hope of finding reforms, policies, and making changes that can affect tangible results. Research into how best to meet the needs of the poverty stricken in the United States remains necessary and worthwhile. Change is possible, but it will take a lot of commitment and dedication of many agencies, organizations, and government entities in order to make that potential change a reality Key Words: poverty, homelessness, government aid. INTRODUCTION Many people around the world perceive the United States as the richest of countries where all its citizens are predominately wealthy and want for little. However, that is simply a myth. The United States is economically sounder than many countries across the globe, but not all of its peoples experiences have been one of wealth, advantage, and luxury. In the United States poverty is still a very real, unending, and, perpetually growing issues in this country. While there have always been some levels of poverty, it is not since the Great Depression, which began with the Stock Market crash of 1929, has the unemployment and poverty rates been so excessive as they are today. In order to have a positive, tangible effect on the statistics of poverty in the USA it is necessary to understand the phenomena causes, consequences, social impacts, and the psychological contributor and effects of poverty in the present day United States. Poverty is a complete and multilayered problem that can and could affect us all in this modern age; and remains a necessary public concern and worthwhile area of study HISTORY It can happen to anyone. The last economic depression experienced over the last decade has shown us that. People with secure jobs, living in beautiful middle-class homes, in lovely and safe neighborhoods found themselves laid off, their homes foreclosed on, and living in cramped motel rooms in unsavory parts of town (Sanburn, 2014). There has been no civilization, no community, and no government that has ever been able to eliminate poverty. In any system of organization there is an existing hierarchy and there are people at the top, those that benefit most, and those that fall to the bottom, those that benefit the least. There are many means, faces, and paths to poverty. Anyone can end up homeless, becoming sick and starving. Severe poverty can even end in the death of the poor. There is likely no record of how many poor have died of exposure to harsh weather and elements or from malnourishment and no one even noticed. That said, what exactly is poverty and how is it defined? In the simplest terms poverty is the state of being extremely poor. Someone living in poverty may face serious housing issues, obtaining of healthcare, substantial food, and maintaining day-to-day needs (Edelman, 2012). However, poverty is not a cause of the problem; it is the reaction to any number of contributory factors including low employment opportunities and alterative resources. A survey, conducted in 2013, showed 45.3 million people in the United States are teetering on or living below the poverty line. This equates to more than 14% of the country’s total population. While the majority of poverty is focused on single adult individuals, 4.7 million of those living in poverty are children and teens 18-years-of –age and under (Feeding America Organization, 2013). Economic inequality exists in the United States and all over the world. However recent studies have determined that while other nations may have more overall poverty, the United States has the largest deficit of inequality in economic incomes of the different “classes” in a wealthy country (Smeeding 2005). Some of this inequality can be attributed to racial disparities, gender inequalities, and of course, an ever widening class system. These disparities have been recorded over the years and despite greater understanding and potential initiatives to alter statistics, the number of people, men, women, children, young, old, and every racial group and nationality living in poverty continues to rise (Bower, Thorpe, Rhode & Gaskin, 2014). DISCUSSION Being poor in the United States does carry a stigma and an implied “shame” that one should feel. The psychological message of America has always been one that promoted that as long as one tries hard they can accomplish anything; they can live “The American Dream.” If you do not have that level of success then you must not have “tried hard enough;” being poor is something that Americans do to themselves and therefore many people do not treat the poor very well at all (Haushofer, 2014). Americans often send monies across the sea to an underdeveloped and poor countries, but are less likely to than donate to help those here in the states that have the same needs. This most likely stems from the reality that many people do not perceive poverty as a serious issue in the United States (Edelman, 2012).That said being poor is something that many Americans are genuinely afraid of. Realistically not every case of poverty can be attributed to not trying hard enough. Causes of Poverty There many causes of poverty in the United States, including social elements like race and gender issues, education considerations, and a pattern and repetition of behaviors that perpetuate poverty (Small, Harding & Lamont, 2010). Racial issues in the United States are often in flux, meaning that we still often struggle with maintaining an environment of true equality on many levels. Economically there has been and continues to be widening disparity between the growing wealth of certain ethnic groups and a steadily decreasing the income of others. These inequalities have existed for generation, yet few initiatives, policies, or interventions have made any real impact on poverty overall (Smeeding, 2005). Gender plays a huge role in poverty statistics in the United States. One of the realities of modern America is accepting that many men do not take responsibility for the children that they have fathered. Single women are more commonly seen attempting to care for children, bring in an incomes, and keep their proverbial “heads above water,” more often than men (Heathcote, Perri & Violante, 2010)This is a cycle that has and does continue to leave many single mothers in a state of perpetual poverty, generation after generation. Women cannot work fulltime and care for the children, and daycare programs are very costly. There is also the reality that despite some great changes in the balance of equality of the genders, women still often do not always make an equal wage to men. The combination of these issues can make attaining a lifestyle above the poverty line highly unlikely and an unrealistic expectation (National Poverty Center, 2014). Education or the lack thereof, has a huge impact on the issues of poverty in the United States. It is no secret that the majority of people who obtain higher levels of education are likely to attain higher paying and more financial security (Weil, 2007). However, individuals who grow in up in poverty are prone to feeling a pressure to make an income as young as possible and this makes seeking higher education unlikely; in fact, many children who grow up in poverty often do not even finish their high school educations (Fisher, 2013). These are not the only elements that can contribute, but they are the most universal and applicable to the largest portion of the population. With so many people living in poverty it is typical for people today to seek aid from state or federal government to save themselves from homelessness and complete destitution. Fortunately, such programs are available and haven proven to be helpful in helping many American survive and get “back on their feet.” However, there is another demographic that causes the charity of state welfare program to perpetuate poverty in low-income neighborhoods (Edelman, 2012). There are many people living in poverty who perceive states aid programs as an alternative to a traditional career. These individuals have a unique a manipulative understanding of such programs and receive the aid and make no effort to ever change or improve their economic situation for themselves; or worse they receive secret incomes and continue to draw from aid that they do not need. This perpetuates poverty in certain communities. Consequences of Poverty During his presidency Ronald Reagan said, “We fought a war on poverty, and poverty won.” (Edelman 2012). This is a realistic statement, after all poverty remains and continues to flourish in the United States regardless of efforts to stem the tide poverty. Hunger and malnourishment are two very serious health aspects of living a life perpetually in a state of poverty. Particularly children grow up in such conditions and this can affect how they grow, how they function, and there overall physical health and well-being. This means that poverty is directly contributing to poor health and costly medical concerns (Grohol, 2011). This is what has made many anti-poverty advocates propose policies that acknowledge that allowing children to be raised in poverty is not beneficial to their future and adult physical health, which will only be more costly for state agencies that will have to cover for expensive medical treatments they made need in the future (Weil, 2007). Again, education becomes a secondary concern for many poverty stricken families. Children living in poverty do not perform well in academic settings; it is theorized that a combination of the stress and stigma of severe poverty, the malnourishment aspects contributing to poor physical and mental health, and distraction of instability can negatively affect these young people’s entire lives. Children living in poverty often are mistreated in peer groups and mocked. This often results in children who show serious behavioral problems, including self-loathing, low self-esteem, and sometime they behave aggressively, on the other extreme, bullying and intimidating others (Duncan & Magnuson, 2013). The psychological effects of living in poverty can be dramatic for all ages, genders, and ethnicities. Experts feel that many people in a state of poverty perpetuate their situation through circular thinking behaviors, thoughts and actions become repetitious; usually with unpleasant side effects. Poverty, obviously, leads to stress and negative emotions, which can lead to reckless thinking and risk taking out of desperation to change their economic reality, sadly, such endeavors generally lead to exacerbating the existing poverty (Haushofer, 2014). Mental illnesses are common among the poor. In some cases the cause of their poverty is untreated mental illness that keeps an individual from being able to function successfully within the world. However, other forms of mental illness can be developed as a consequence of living in poverty and the accessory unhealthy thinking patterns (Grohol, 2011). Poverty as a Global Issue Again poverty is not only an American phenomenon it is an international issue. Poverty in other nations will look quite different from the poverty we are familiar with in the United States. In such regions as sub-Saharan Africa, the land is in a state of perpetual drought, limited animals for hunting or livestock, and a famine is literally killing children in the hundreds, if not thousands, every single day (). In such places, they do not have the programs, interventions, or welfare services available in the United States. Yet, providing temporary support is helpful, there are not enough to decrease or eliminate poverty. Of 25 different countries all over the world, of differing levels of development, and economical standing compared to the number of children being immediately effected by poverty is highest in their respective communities. From Nigeria to Haiti, and from Eastern Europe to the shores of California, the number of children living in poverty is unendingly immense. Experts feel that improving and changing poverty cannot be accomplished without the ability to find means to save children from such an existence in their formidable years (Weil, 2007). Globally speaking, the United States rankings may be shocking to many Americans. While many people feel that the poverty levels are far worse in undeveloped foreign nations, its prevalence is felt in the United States far more immense. In a map view, see figure 1, you can see that while Canada and the bulk of Western Europe show the lowest statistics of children living below the poverty line. However, The United States, the entire country shows the largest numbers of children living in poverty. The United States Scored 34th of the 35 countries studied. Only Romania had higher child poverty rates compared to the United States. This track record does not say much for our ability to address the American issues in of poverty within our own borders (Fisher, 2013). Why is Poverty Still an Issue in the Modern USA? Many experts are fairly certain that it is American ignorance and the perpetuating the vicious poverty cycle, and that is what is keeping the United States from making effective and efficient change to the statistics that leaves the United States as an example of vast economic inequality, nearly highest level of child poverty, and ever-increasing of continental poverty growth (Grohol, 2011). Other experts and researchers agree that the ineffectual efforts made to combat poverty have failed, and poverty continues to plague the country can be attributed to two specific reasons. They feel that the best means to alter poverty statistics is to raise the wages paid to those people who are working the lowest paying jobs. If the wage that they earn is well beneath the cost of living, then how can anyone working such a job ever hope to elevate themselves up and out of the hole of poverty? If employment was more available and offered a farer wage, then individuals, families, and children would not need to be dependent on welfare and other county agencies. They would be less affected by stress and pressures that pull children away from completing an education, and would allow families to take care of their own needs, without the constant threat of homelessness and destitution. Poverty has a negative psychological effect on anyone and everyone involved. The psychological stresses can lead honest people to turn to crime to make ends meet, which can include theft and prostitution. Poor decision making and failed efforts to improve the situation only make the negative thinking all the worse (Edelman, 2012). This very often causes many individuals, young and old, to resort to self-medication to deal with their issues and feelings of failure and inadequacy. Drug and alcohol abuse, of course, will only exacerbate the situation and lead to greater poor decision making and the addiction can lead to deeper and deeper debt and poverty Studies have shown that there are a number of blockades to making feasible and tangible decreases in American poverty. The inequality in job availability, income, there is also an inequality in the taxation of low-earning Americans versus those Americans in the highest of tax brackets. If the taxes were lowered and the wages were raised, it could have a huge impact on the statistical data. People would be able to achieve an adequate income to meet their monthly needs and it would lessen the overall social and psychological stresses that contribute to the “poverty cycle.” This also, would improve the health, improve educational opportunities and endeavors, and lessen the statistics on using illegal drugs and alcohol to cope. However give the present issues in the American economy the government is hardly in a position to feel confident enough to lower the monies taken from its citizens (Heathcote, Perri & Violante, 2010). Policy makers are eager to find new means to approach the poverty issues in the modern United States. Improvements have been presented in the areas of healthcare. Ideally, making healthcare universally available to all Americans regardless of income may be well-intended, but it is having varied successes. Obamacare has failed to provide the simple transition that was promised and many are fining the costs much higher that originally stated. Regardless of the healthcare changes, there is a need for policies, initiatives, approaches, and reformations at local, state, and federal levels (Weil, 2007). Until these areas are properly addressed and real change is implemented then the widening gap between the rich and poor will only increase. Men, women, the sick, the aged, and, most sadly, children will continue to suffer the side effects and consequences of the extreme poverty, its self-perpetuating cycle, and inequality that is plaguing the United States. CONCLUSION When people think of poverty they may not envision the same thing. Many people cannot fathom that there are people in the United States who are living and dying on the streets from exposure, poor nutrition, or the dangers of crime while living in economically depressed environments. However, it is happening. It is happening every day. Poverty may not look the same here in the United States as it does in Romania, Canada, the United Kingdom, or Bangladesh, India. However, the outcomes tend to be the same, a self-perpetuating cycle of low educational goals, hunger, mental health issues, the need to seek outside help from welfare agencies, and, finally, face exposure to criminal, drug related, and socially deviant or unhealthy behaviors that can affect millions of Americans quality of life. Research continues into how best to meet the needs the poverty stricken in the United States and remains necessary and worthwhile. Change is possible, but it will take a lot of commitment and dedication of many agencies, organizations, and government entities in order to make that potential change a reality. APPENDIX Figure 1: Map reflecting the relative child poverty rates among the major continents. REFERENCES Bower, K., Thorpe Jr, R., Rohde, C., & Gaskin, D. (2014). The intersection of neighborhood racial segregation, poverty, and urbanicity and its impact on food store availability in the United States. Preventive Medicine, 58, 33--39. Duncan, G., & Magnuson, K. (2013). The long reach of early childhood poverty. Springer, 57--70. Edelman, P. (2012, July 28). Why cant we end poverty in america?. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/opinion/sunday/why-cant-we-end-poverty-in-america.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Fisher, M. (2013, April 15). Map: How 35 countries compare on child poverty (the u.s. is ranked 34th). Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/04/15/map-how-35-countries-compare-on-child-poverty-the-u-s-is-ranked-34th/ Grohol, J. M. (2011, November 2). The vicious cycle of poverty and mental health [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/11/02/the-vicious-cycle-of-poverty-and-mental-health/ Haushofer, J. (2014).The Price of Poverty. Foreign Affairs. 1. Retrieved from http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/141640/johannes-haushofer/the-price-of-poverty Heathcote, J., Perri, F., & Violante, G. (2010). Unequal we stand: An empirical analysis of economic inequality in the United States, 1967--2006. Review Of Economic Dynamics, 13(1), 15--51. Sanburn, J. (2014, July 31). The rise of suburban poverty in america. Time Magazine, 1. Retrieved from http://time.com/3060122/poverty-america-suburbs-brookings/ Small, M.L, Harding, D.J, & Lamont, M. (2010). Reconsidering culture and poverty. American Academy of Political and Social Science. 1-21. Retrieved from http://scholar.harvard.edu/files/lamont/files/reconsidering_culture_and_poverty_2.pdf Smeeding, T. (2005). Public Policy, Economic Inequality, and Poverty: The United States in Comparative Perspective*. Social Science Quarterly, 86(s1), 955--983. Weil, A. (2007). The next generation of antipoverty policies. The Future of Children, 17(2), 1. Retrieved from http://www.princeton.edu/futureofchildren/publications/journals/article/index.xml?journalid=33&articleid=64§ionid=323 Feeding America Organization. (2013). Hunger & poverty statistics. Retrieved from http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/hunger-and-poverty-statistics.aspx National Poverty Center. (2014). Poverty in the united states. National Poverty Center, 1. Retrieved from http://www.npc.umich.edu/poverty Rough Draft Grading Rubric Student: Criteria Points Possible Points Earned Instructor’s Comments Assignment meets the minimum length requirement of 10 pages (3 points will be deducted for each page that falls short of this requirement). 30 30 Proper use of current APA format. 2 0 Double check your web citations/see paper corrections Content is supported by research. 2 1 Good development of ideas and concepts. 2 2 Grammar and spelling is correct. 2 2 Limited use of direct quotations (only use when absolutely necessary). 2 2 Total 40 37 See Paper Read More